The Fake Executive Funnel: When Job Offers Become Free Labor
During a recent interview process for a senior marketing/growth executive role, the company pivoted mid-process from a salaried offer to an unpaid, revenue-share advisory agreement instead. I didn't sign it. This piece breaks down how that funnel works, why the contract mechanics make it a bad trade, and what operators and founders should do about it. I've generalized identifying details so this can't be traced back to the company involved.
When early-stage AI startups hit a capital constraints wall, standard Lean operating discipline says tighten feedback loops, focus on high-retention cohorts, and use automation to lower Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC).
I recently sat through an interview process for a senior marketing/growth executive role. It started straightforward, then partway through, the terms changed. I'm not naming the company, and since then I've heard other operators describe versions of the same thing happening to them. What matters here isn't who did it...
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