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jensneuseHNSource author
Lessons learnedExperience excerpt · English

As a founder with multiple years of experience I can say that this post and a lot of other comments …

As a founder with multiple years of experience I can say that this post and a lot of other comments are coming from people who don't understand the life of a founder. It's not so much about risk. My peers earn 5-10x my salary. I'm paying my employees more than myself. I have to provide for 3 kids and we have a lot of debt on the house. I'm working day and night, 24/7. I don't like the phrase "taking money off the table". If I can sell some equity, this is none of your business. I started this company with my co-founders. Start your own company and try reaching Series A. It's almost impossible. Most people are not capable of getting there.

Original discussionSilicon Valley's best kept secret: Founder liquidity914 source comments · at import
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colordropsHN

To be frank that's your call to work 24/7 with 3 kids and not the business of your employees. They are free to negotiate how they please and we are free to take issue with certain founder behaviors. It's all business and it's a free world.

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erremerreHN

So you either you are neglecting your kids, or you are calling work at building legos with your kids?

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tockHN

Aren't most early employees also working very long hours for 1/4th the pay and maybe 1% equity? A lot of them also have kids and debt. The life of a "founder" is not really that different from how most people in the world make ends meet. Heck most small businesses run on loans not VC money and are a ton more stressful.

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throwaway2037HN

It's sad this post was so downvoted. You speak the truth from your view. We need more of that here. > My peers earn 5-10x my salary. I need to troll a little bit here. So... their package sounds much better. Way lower risk. Are you shooting for the moon (want to be 1B+?)... or what?

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