Chief Technology Officer/Architect - Does it take salary and equity?

In my experience placing CTOs in Silicon Beach startups, yes, it takes equity and cash (quite a lot of both - typical is 200-300k in base/bonus plus 1-5%).   It’s certainly possibly to try to attract a technical co-founder using some of the sites out there which do that matchmaking, so you might be able to find another wizard for equity, but it’s frankly one of those stars-aligned, blue moon kind of miracles.   Some of my clients have successfully brought in a talented Software Engineer who has created their MVP and architected/built the site/app.  But that can lead to a few long term, and potentially bring-you-to-your-knees issues: 1) the site will not scale; 2) the engineer used whatever language they are most comfortable with, not necessarily the best technology stack for what you are creating; 3) good luck getting funding without a real CTO in that square on your org chart.  

I generally recommend that my seed or pre-seed clients engage a CTO-for-hire. These are seasoned CTOs who have experience making (and breaking) scalable sites. Being an ex-technologist myself, I know that the best way how to learn how to do it right is by doing it wrong and then fixing it. That only comes with time and experience.   These CTOs have learned the hard way (but the right way), and can help you to avoid pitfalls that a Software Engineer simply has not had the time or opportunity to deal with yet.  

In Silicon Beach, I know several CTOs-for-hire, and simply refer them out. They are all willing to have a conversation, which if nothing else, can be validating to your approach.   If you have opted to get a Software Engineer to build the MVP/site, the CTO-for-hire can also be invaluable in validating the architecture to ensure it will scale (and that the right technology for the task at hand has been used).  If you decide to engage them, they are compensated in various ways - some are open to equity, some are hourly. In addition, some have their own Engineering resources on deck, and can build the MVP/site for you. Not saying it’s cheap, but it may still be the optimal way to go pre-funding. In addition, many let you use their name on your org chart, which helps you get funding.

I'm a CTO of a startup.  I have not taken salary.  But I get a large chunk of equity and my wife has a brilliant job so this is a chance for me to play.  BUT  I've got a deadline from my wife.

I've had offers from other startups where I get as much as 20% equity and 50% of normal salary.  Remember a CTO is NOT your #1 developer.  Your CTO is the person you bring on to run the technical execution of your idea.  That means THEY are not going to pay for the development nor do all of the development.   Sure they may do some of the coding - but mostly they are going to be responsible for the architecture, the data schemas, writing the copyrightable specs, possibly filing your patent applications and doing the daily job of running the technical team.

That means they need to have significant equity in the company AND the also need the cash with which to pay the dev team.

Sure they may be responsible for putting together the prototype and the initial website to validate the idea.  but yes YOU are going to have to come up with the funding for the development of the MVP.  And for that you can expect the CTO to get about 20% of equity.

You want the CTO to cofund the company?  make that 40%

Stephen to answer your question:

>>What is the difference between dating a co-founder and paying someone with equity only because you don't have cash?<<

there isn't any real difference.  Unless the person you are paying with equity is very very very junior (read entry level).   The reason is that someone who has senior level skills does not need to work for an "equity only" payment.  They can find employment pretty much anywhere.   Thus the ONLY reason for them to work for "equity only"  or even "mostly equity"  is that they believe in the product and the vision.

Someone who is working in a startup as a senior person, for equity only who believes in the vision and the product... is almost by definition, a co-founder

What you are seeing in Founder Dating I think on the technical side are either

a) folks who think they have good ideas and know how to build it technically but don't understand how to go to market with the idea.    These folks are not looking for Founder who has an idea and is looking for a technical co-founder

b) senior level folks with jobs who are testing the waters for just the right idea.   These folks are rare, and will really only engage you if your idea is well presented and thought out.  And they will not be cheap

c) folks who are selling technical services to startups.  These might be contractors, they might be like us at ClearRoadmap who provide tools, they might be serial entrepreneurs who just like working for startups more than large corporations.  they will want both equity and cash

I would contend that most tech folks on FD fall into category (c)