Ask HN: How do I leave a startup on philosophical grounds?

Leave as soon as possible. You don't like it. You could easily be employed elsewhere you would like.

It also sounds like an unhealthy situation: imbalanced team, sketchy uncertain compensation (cash/equity), low respect, nothing to help you with where you need to grow (which includes both technical peers and having the confidence to interview elsewhere).

No point in trying to rush something to 'complete' and only then leave. Software is never done. They'll need to get more engineers in any case, those new engineers should do it the way they'll need to.

Respect anything you've signed so far; don't sign anything new; don't directly compete or take anything you wrote for the current unpaid project with you.

Though you say the CEO is nice, it also sounds like you're being a little bullied, and expect to get more 'temper' from people when you leave. Brush it off; it's their situation and emotional reactions, not an objective analysis of things. Don't get into a long discussion, don't accept a 'counter-offer' or promise of change. Go elsewhere definitively.

"It'll look good in your portfolio/resume/etc."

Don't burn bridges - be polite, give at least two weeks' notice, don't get into arguments. Smile, thank them for the learning opportunity and wish them all the best.

Page & Yang were dropouts too and the list goes on and on... There is something I don't understand in your story. There seem to be a couple of employees and you seem to be the only developer... Did this lady found a way to hire a team without paying anybody or are you the only one? Pay "cuts" usually come with a lager equity grant... very simple equation : share the risk, share the benefit. In your situation it doesn't really matter at this point. The main reason you should leave is the CEO... She seems clueless (based on your description) especially when she says you're naive and "that everybody does it" (spamming twitter) and that's why you guys should do it... If everybody "does it" and it annoys users then it's exactly the reason not to do it. A successfull consumer startup is about doing something new, smart, unexpectedly helpfull to users and surprisingly disruptive to the industry... Spamming users is the naive approach! Lesson learned... The lesson here is that the people you chose to work with are more important then the ideas you will possibly work on... I'm working on a recommendation engine too, I'd love to chat with you...

It's during situations like these that I wish the votes could be displayed in HN, just so that you would get a feel of how opinions weigh. There are many answers that I'd vote up in here, but that doesn't convey to you the strength of the message. So we have to resort to reiterating it:

- You're saying the CEO doesn't share your moral objections and even derides them. Did it cross your mind that maybe she's the type who also wouldn't mind tricking someone to work for her for free? Sounds to me like you're probably being taken advantage of, so get out. Once out, stay out. There isn't much to advocate for, in a relationship that starts with one party taking advantage of another.

- don't sweat your lack of diploma.

- I haven't made a cv in a while, but I'd advise you to meet with someone that could help you refine yours and prepare for interviews.

- try to get an idea of what you would be worth in the current market. I've seen a few posts on HN and some Stack Exchange sites discussing the topic. I believe you're capable of digging up that information, or maybe someone would be kind enough to post some links. That sort of info isn't pinpoint accurate, but having even ballpark numbers is always comforting when making demands and in your case, I feel that you could use the reassurance.