.. you're also not hiring the best and the brightest because you aren't paying enough. Top talent knows what it's worth and enjoys those rewards .. finding them through consulting, banking, or entrepreneurship.
Only the mediocre are going to settle for $160k/yr + options at some "me too" A16Z startup.
Depends if that start up is a 10 min to walk to work and you say have a wife and newborn child to support some times you will take any job.
And some one really good might take a CTO role at a me to start-up to tick that box make your mistakes where it doesn't matter then move on to bigger and better things after 18 months 2 years.
Only the mediocre are going to settle for $160k/yr + options at some "me too" A16Z startup.