There is another way to think about this. Instead of working for one startups, work for several.<p>I have probably done work for around 100 different startups since I started my company in 2005.<p>What really helped me though was that I started the company with Morten Lund (Early investor in Skype) who had several companies in his portfolio and a good connection in the venture capital world. That helped send work our way.<p>Instead of going for design conferences go to conferences with a lot of VC guys. Show your portfolio around and you will most likely get some work if it's good.<p>You will need to be a little more flexible with regards to pricing but that can be solved once you realize how most startups get their funding.<p>In the angel round, companies are normally pretty cost sensitive.<p>One way to solve that is to charge less than your normal would but with with an option to cash in if they get their series A funding.<p>This is a great motivator and that is only one of the many many advantages of working for startups.