Joining a start-up means working for little pay in exchange for the promise of equity. These talented individuals are willing to make that trade because they believe they are building something world-changing and, if successful, they will reap the benefits of doing so. Once it’s clear that’s not going to happen, continuing on is just trapping them in an endeavor that’s going to fail. It’s stopping them from being able to move on to something better.
Another thought that probably has metaphor potential.
