There are several articles from folks like Peter Thiel talking about how much a startup CEO should receive. I wonder if you all have some thoughts and more specifically applied to early stage ventures.
0. Really.
That question can be answered by honestly answering these two questions:
1) How much is that startup willing to pay for a CEO without risking the finance stability of the business?
2) Does that startup business need or can afford a CEO?
Understand the difference between these two requirements:
a) A person's need for a CEO job (which only the real owner is willing to reject the position).
b) A business' need for good managerial guidance (which only the real owner is willing to invest in, either by paying off or by doing it).
And finally, you have to understand that, getting a lousy CEO salary does not mean you are a lousy CEO. Only means that you are very much interested in doing that CEO job while your goals are met.