Equity is divided between the founders and the business begun.  The board must approve the plan including this number, and shareholders must approve the plan as well.  This is an area of expertise that a CEO is required to quickly learn and carefully manage with the help of the corporate attorney and the board. Ignition! MORE >>

Managers take lots of equity Hiring the right management team is definitely a tough task, which is exponentially more difficult for first time entrepreneurs because they come under more scrutiny from investors as unknowns. However, I did wind up finding a happy medium by putting together advisory boards. MORE >>

They can provide your startup with guidance on a wide range of topics and typically take a seat on your startup’s advisory board. cash, equity, geek cred). No matter how you arrived at this point with your Startup Creeper, you have 2 choices: (1) Make it official and offer them a position on your advisory board. MORE >>

Include Advisory Board members and key industry people connections. Quantify existing skin-in-the-game, by insiders and outsiders, including sweat equity and capital. People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. Solution and benefits. Focus is the keyword here. MORE >>

Advisory Board Member, 1% Senior Engineer,3 -.7% It never hurts to ask in a job interview what stock options are available, and don’t accept an offer which promises to “work out the equity terms later.” Any offers of equity compensation before the first round of institutional capital should be considered purely speculative. MORE >>