Utility

Nope. I estimate that I can add 5% to the likelihood they succeed (which in itself is small), and about 20% to the upside if they make it.

I am thinking about accepting an offer to join a startup with two founders (one technical, one non-technical) to be the first employee in a Biz Dev role. The company has no funding and a prototype will release in 1 month. I think the founders have been working for 5-6 months on it (probably 75% of their time in total).

They offer no salary, but a 1k / month stipend, and a very fair commission structure for sales revenues I bring in.

They offered me 1.0 - 1.5 % in common stock equity that will vest (as will theirs) over a typical 4 yr / 1 yr cliff path.

I feel that the equity offered is too low, given that my joining is a risky investment for me financially, similar to theirs as founders. What do you think is the appropriate amount of equity to ask for?