You are speaking in some really large generalities. Being an early employee of a startup isn't indentured servitude.
If you are offered little equity as compared to the founders, don't join. If the founders won't share the financials of the company with you, don't join. If they wont pay you the salary you want, don't join. If they wont offer you the opportunity to grow into the role you want, don't join.
And you can't argue that every company is like this, because once upon a time I was employee #1 of an early stage startup and your post doesn't align with my experiences at all.
I'm not taking anything away from founding a company, I think in many cases that is a great idea. But being an early employee isn't such a horrible deal if you are selective in what jobs you take.
If you are offered little equity as compared to the founders, don't join. If the founders won't share the financials of the company with you, don't join. If they wont pay you the salary you want, don't join. If they wont offer you the opportunity to grow into the role you want, don't join.
And you can't argue that every company is like this, because once upon a time I was employee #1 of an early stage startup and your post doesn't align with my experiences at all.
I'm not taking anything away from founding a company, I think in many cases that is a great idea. But being an early employee isn't such a horrible deal if you are selective in what jobs you take.