throwailearner

Posting from throwaway so I can be very open.

I joined a YC startup as engineer #1 with close to $200k salary and 2% options vesting at the usual 4 years, with a 10 year window.

I feel like this was bettern than usual, and for a while felt like I struck an awesome deal, but as time went on I realised I was building everything single-handedly, while getting (at best) 2%, which started to annoy me deep down.

Over two years in I'm considering quitting, for multiple reasons. I still believe there is a good chance of getting to an exit at some point, but I don't like the vibe and culture here, and honestly between cashing out 1.X% and cashing out 2% I don't see the point.

If I had been given a much higher chunk (>5%) there is a good chance I would've stayed, so we'll see if they value me enough with a counteroffer when I give my notice.

All in all, and reading through all of this I would never join a startup under these terms again, if I'm engineer #1 then I'm getting at least 10% and essentially being a cofounder. Otherwise I want a salary that's on par to a bigger company.

It would be like what you say, with my core hours being in my TZ - but I can imagine some late meetings will be unavoidable, specially given I’m joining as founder engineer so I’ll have to be present in many I’d imagine

How did you cope with social life though, plans after work, sports - that sort of thing?

Yeah they’re ok with just some overlap - but it’s hard to know if this will be maintained in the future…

I’m not too worried about long days (I would start later if needed) but late meetings for instance.

I also do stuff with my wife like dance classes or climbing after work which would be quite challenging, how did you cope with social life with that schedule?