meritage31

>> Most engineers figured out that the options/stocks of startups are worthless.

Also, if the startup gives you options/stocks without showing up the cap table, they are giving you a numerator and not a denominator.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalization_table

Never trade real cash for imaginary money unless you have the facts

>> Dodgy accounting & staff retention meant that actually you don't get fuckyou money.

The insiders get rich via salary, bonus, benefits, and looking for their next job while they are on startup-expensed conference tours, paid forbes articles, and company-sponsored fellowships.

>> I think the real value employees get is riding the rocketship in their career.

Startups hire those people when they are risky and the future is unclear. Once there is traction, the VCs and insiders bring in friends for cush Director/VC posts. Quite often the people who took the real risks get left out.