[misterjangles]

I think those are all perfectly fair questions however I would take the answers you get with a grain of salt. I wouldn't expect an employer to admit they're 6 weeks away from going under at a job interview.

Startups are risky and a lot of times you are convincing people (including yourself) that it is going to work. So startup employers kinda have to be optimistic and positive, otherwise everybody would be freaking out and fearing for their job.

Also - without having any idea what startup you are talking about - the odds are against you that the company will make it. That's just the reality of startup life.

[alok-g]

Which is why one should ask in ways that are more likely to generate good answers for the question you actually have.

So "Why do you think this product will succeed?" may be posed as "What are the key risk factors involved (that I can help you with)?" The former is a question about their value proposition against the competition, and they would have articulated it often enough already to be convincing to you as well. The latter would open them up somewhat about the risk factors in their path of success.