Comment by thrw42A8N | Hacker News Reader

Comment by thrw42A8N | Hacker News Reader

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Yes, they can - stock can be part of compensation. I'm sure almost any company would happily pay you in stock rather than in cash. And buying isn't the only way of becoming a shareholder, especially in software.

I co-founded my first startup when I was 16, as soon as I reached the lower age limit for being a company shareholder in the UK - I'm not from the UK, but I wanted it and so I found a way. If a 16 year old kid with acne and 300 euro in their wallet can do it, any adult professional can.

Yeah it's a load of risk, you work crazy hours, the stress is insane and sometimes you end up paying instead of earning - so don't be surprised that nobody will share the upside if you don't share the risk. It's not for everyone. But anyone can, if they actually wanted.

I remember when I was 18, trying to earn my way through college, scrounging by on less than minimum wage because I was paid under the table. Living in a flat with 8 other people to make the rent math work.

Foolish me for not just becoming a shareholder. I definitely had the spare time between the $7k/year I was making to take that risk and not die of starvation.

Your world would be great if I had a guarantee of food, water, a bed, basic medicine, etc. I'd love to have had the ability to throw my time at a risky innovative project. But, I didn't. If I had, and that project failed, I would have literally died. Downsides are too big in this capitalist world for anyone to just become a shareholder.

Yeah, as I said, it's definitely not for everyone. I skipped school because I wanted to do business. Sometimes I didn't have enough food, at the beginning. I had to buy (very) used instead of new. I lived at the far end of the city and I didn't really go anywhere because I didn't have enough money for bus tickets. A lot of sacrifice - and now someone comes and wants to have all of it without any sacrifice. I agree the world can be improved and your suggestions are what I have in mind too. But imho it's off topic to this conversation.

You said that you want to get all profit you made for the company - that's only possible if it's your company. If you don't want that, that's fine - but don't say the option isn't available.

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