At most early-stage startups, there is no money on the table. If you want to maximize your earnings, focusing your job search on pre-Series A startups is a horrible waste of time.

The OP seems to be asking for startup excitement, reasonable hours, high salary and meaningful equity. At a pre-Series A startup, you might be able to find two of the four.

> .5% equity, especially when it will end up being diluted, is a fool's game.

Rhetorical exercise:

1. What's .5% of $0?

2. What's 2% of $0?

3. What's 10% of $0?

Equity at early-stage startups is a fool's game.