You just described how most startups end up. Even yc funded startups that flop have to close up shop and the founders go back to work at Facebook or whatever. There aren't any easy answers to your questions.
well, "easy" answer #1 is what I've been doing, which is to say, keeping all the equity to myself.
I was just thinking that I know of funded companies that pay market salaries that have been going for years (and many rounds of funding) without turning a profit. Each new round of funding dilutes the previous investors. I was thinking it might be possible to simulate the same thing when the "investors" (and that's what you are when you work for equity) are investing labour rather than cash.
