> NEVER work for a YC founder.

I would generalize this to "don't work for someone whose ability to pay is based on a high-risk gamble".

There are certainly shady people who can pay but don't because they are greedy avaricious bastards. But there are also plenty of people who would like to pay but whose business venture fails and with it goes their funds.

In the author's story, they probably should have concluded fairly early on that a team that wildly incompetent was also unlikely to produce a product that satisfies their client. And if the client doesn't pay, no one gets paid.

"I'll get you the money tomorrow. I'm heading down to the track to go get it."