[dsattt]

So the problem is paying them. You want a founder for an engineer's salary.

[nerder92]

You mean what we shouldn't offer a salary and only equity?

[ryandrake]

The best candidates are probably the ones already employed, maybe even employed in a cushy 9-5 company making $400K. As an employer, you need to think about what are you offering that's so much better than what they already have in their hand, that would make them willing to walk away from a sure thing and take a risk by joining your company. You gotta give them what they're already making plus a risk premium.

You don't have to pay that risk premium to someone currently unemployed, but what are the odds that you find your senior Founding Engineer from that pool?

[dsattt]

You need to offer more, not less, bro, wtf.