Is there any evidence that disproportionate returns (as opposed to risk avoidance) is the major reason?
I'm not saying increased compensation wouldn't increase interest (that applies to any job). But, there is nothing in this article to suggest that startups are hurting to recruit and that this is due to compensation rather than life/work balance and job stability.
Sorry, if that's the expectation I think I rightfully expect at least a "best case" scenario of getting rich.
1.) Same pay as big-corp + much more interesting problem domain.
2.) More pay than big-corp scaled by the extra hours (not a 1:1 scaling)
3.) Large amount of equity. Enough that if the founders become tens of millionaires, I become a millionaire.
The simple fact is, when investors are involved there is NEVER enough equity to go around.
you took money because it made your smaller % worth more. so why are we even talking about %s?
(But i do plan to hire some people soon and demand that from them)
The point is that a better compensation migth, well, compensate this.