My experience as en early-stage employee wasn't quite so bad. As we received funding my salary tended to increase pretty nicely. There was a point that I was the lowest paid employee (with the highest level of responsibility)... but I quickly moved to fix that.
The biggest mistake I find that folks in that position make is in how they value their equity (in that they HUGELY over-value it).
The biggest mistake I find that folks in that position make is in how they value their equity (in that they HUGELY over-value it).