And this is why I just don't get this aqui-hire craze. You can buy the founders, sure, but unless an employee has equity or you throw some real cash at them why would a rank and file employee stay? If I wanted to work at XYZ corp (especially if XYZ corp is big enough to acquire the startup), then I would have sent a resume to XYZ corp in the first place.
What a company is buying in an acqui-hire is not just individual capability, but also team chemistry and cohesion. The team has proven that it can work together effectively to ship a great product. They're acquired (and given appropriate salaries + retention packages) to do the same for the acquirer.
