I had a 1hr interview with the founder. While the company’s product innovation and mission to help seniors are interesting, the interview was a mirror that exposed how the overview really is. It has become clear that they are only willing to offer a very basic pay. If the goal is to hire low-paid labour, it's misleading to bring in highly qualified candidates. There was also an attempt to extract strategic ideas. While I gave general feedback, I recognised the angle early on. It's disappointing to feel like you’re being used for free consulting during an interview, especially when it's not reciprocated with genuine engagement or respect. Finally, when I chose to give a neutral response (rather than spill actionable ideas for free), it was brushed off as “very normal.” That, to me, solidified the lack of respect for boundaries and contribution. From what he elaborated, it felt more like he was looking for someone to assist him unquestioningly, more of an underpaid assistant than a valued strategic contributor. I recommend that candidates set clear boundaries, do not get caught in the fluff trap.