"Why would someone with those skills and qualifications go work for a startup building their entire product for 2% or less vs just building it for themselves and retaining 100% equity?" Oh boy, tried that many many times. Turns out 100% of 0 is < 0.25% of a billion.
BTW if anyone is going to apply to one of these remember that 2% max equity is NOT REALLY THE MAX. Ask for 10% and slowly work down and settle for 6%.
BTW if anyone is going to apply to one of these remember that 2% max equity is NOT REALLY THE MAX. Ask for 10% and slowly work down and settle for 6%.