Somebody who dedicates his time to publicly spew this toxic attitude will likely not archive success that is pleasant for him.
Especially if, like OP, you considered a cash offer for half this amount you've pulled out of thin air to be a damned, laughable insult, a ridiculous slight, completely amateurish, a clownshow run by idiots. (Although multiple of them have suggested this as an appropriate rate.)
I wish everyone in life were as easy to please as OP. (Just pay him the number he wrote down on a piece of paper, approximately twice what he commands in that market.) Of course, you're never going to build something big with him, I would never try.
I have no idea why he's applying to startups.
Also his objection to someone getting an internship at a startup because they're a "beautiful 18yo girl" is the most sexist thing I've read in a while.
hmmmm, can I get through your own sexist brain? (Not an ad hominem, I just feel you're also being sexist.) Let's try this, this may or may not work. Close your eyes and imagine that you've studied very, very hard throughout high school and through very hard work you were admitted to MIT. You're also an attractive woman, which is irrelevant. You're reading HN, and then the linked article. Now how do you feel reading that blog post and its implication?
>married hetero male founders: we're thinking of getting an intern
>me: okay but I don't see what we could offer you know we're on a really tight
>married hetero male founders: we're getting an intern.
>intern: (beautiful 18yo girl)
did I get through to you?
1. Your idea that there was nothing wrong with the situation and the OP was being denigrating to women everywhere by pointing out this situation and implying there was anything wrong.
2. Another idea that the founders weren't interested in hiring an intern for actual work, as there wasn't enough to go around, but would hire an 18 yo girl to hang around the office.
3. Another idea may be that an 18 yo is not experienced enough to realize they are being paid much less than market value for their work and it's being called an "internship". Women especially seem to put up with this nonsense.
4. Some other scenario I haven't thought up yet. Rorschach test away...
I did find it odd that you seemed to specifically pick on tech startups when I think the exact same situation would be equally stupid in a startup for media or other finance or another industry.