I never wanted (and still never want) to work at a startup. Without my knowledge or consent, my business partners acquired a small percentage of one, thereby bringing some measure of that toxic atmosphere into my work environment where I thought I was safe. Now there's at least 3 levels of secrecy and collusion as everyone maneuvers in expectation of a truly enormous payday that I truly do not believe will come. The tragedy is that when the startup in question fizzles, I'm still never going to break bread with these "partners" again, ever. If we had just stuck together and kept our heads down, we could have made plenty of cash, but the scent of blood changed them directly into people I can barely share a respectful meeting with, and they're starting to figure that out.