What do you look for in a startup job?
hga: For your situation, I'd:Look at you, most of all.  Your character, and savy in things technical, business, etc.  Experience (which can be traded off for willingness to listen (my first startup was in 1982)).  Etc.Pre-funding is probably going to be an individual thing, you'll not be able attract some people without it, but you can make the deal sweet enough to attract others (some of whom might not have other good options at the moment).Technology makes a big difference.  If it's something that I find unpleasant to use for the requirements I wouldn't take the job unless desperate.  (Perl is about the only thing I've decided is in that category for almost all requirements, after a decade of using it every once in a while.)  This also shows if you're savy in technology.Culture and personality have to be a "works well with others" sort of thing.  I look for reasonably professional and tolerant types.  I'm also politically conservative and libertarian; if the workplace environment is uncomfortable for people like me, well, obviously I wouldn't find it desirable (one reason I left the field of biology).Cash is king, stock is pie in the sky.  I'll maybe believe that you can pay my salary, but there are so many unknowns WRT to equity that I'd only look for a fair deal and then forget about it.  (This was true long before the 2001 technology crash, after which the prospects for equity payouts became pretty grim.)Mostly: will you pay me (enough and often enough (I'm willing to work for a while without a paycheck I can cash)), do you look like you've got a fair chance of succeeding, will the work have enough fun and challenge (I also expect to sweep floors, do backups, do some of this technology generation's COBOL ... whatever is needed, it's a startup), etc.Good luck!