I was laid off two weeks ago from my position as a Business Development Manager in tech, where I was earning around $275K. Since then, I've been actively applying for jobs, networking, and reaching out to founders and hiring managers, but the uncertainty of my situation looms over me. I might get lucky and find a similar role soon, or I could be unemployed for six months. Recently, three startups from my home country contacted me. I know the founders personally, and they want me to help them expand into the US market as their go-to-market and business development person. However, they can't offer me a salary that matches the NYC tech standards. The proposed arrangement is intriguing but risky: I wouldn't have a base salary, but I would earn about 30% of the revenue I generate. Since none of these companies require a full-time commitment, I could potentially work with all three on a fractional basis. I'm grappling with the idea that commission-only work might be a huge red flag, making it feel like I'm agreeing to work for free. Yet, I wonder about the potential upside. I'm currently unemployed, so I could dedicate 30-40% of my time to these startups while continuing my job search. If I manage to close deals, I could earn some income, and if one of these ventures gains traction, it could lead to something more significant. If it doesn't work out, I can always walk away when I find another job. I'm curious if anyone has experience with this kind of commission-only work between jobs. Am I overlooking any major pitfalls?