Steve Blank

APRIL 10, 2019

VC’s have just changed the ~50-year old social contract with startup employees. For most startup employee’s startup stock options are now a bad deal. As Venture Capital emerged as an industry in the mid 1970’s, investors in venture-funded startups began to give stock options to all their employees. Here’s why.

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Stock Options Stock Vesting Common Stock 334

The Next Web

NOVEMBER 20, 2013

So, let’s say that one founder puts in $100,000 in seed capital, that could be worth 20 percent of a seed stage company’s valuation. So, a fair split, would be closer to 60/40 in favor of the funding founder, when diluted for the cash. In this case, I would take your total ownership and divide it up by employee tiers.

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Cofounder Equity Founder Seed Stage 136

The Next Web

OCTOBER 3, 2012

I have heard many founders — even in the first few months of product development — expect to raise seed rounds, pay themselves salaries, etc. It can be very tempting to take in a little bit of seed capital, and start to operate as if you’re a big company. This simply is not the right attitude.

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Cofounder Technical Cofounder Technical Review Software Review 155

View from Seed

DECEMBER 4, 2014

It’s also worth keeping in mind that regardless of how the founders’ common stock is divided, there will be future issuance of stock that will dilute the founders over the lifecycle of the company. Next, those that were forgoing some or all salary prior to Series A got an additional chunk for that. Prior & Ongoing Involvement.

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Equity Founder Sweat Equity Cofounder 315

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

It’s also worth keeping in mind that regardless of how the founders’ common stock is divided, there will be future issuance of stock that will dilute the founders over the lifecycle of the company. Next, those that were forgoing some or all salary prior to Series A got an additional chunk for that.

Cofounder 255

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 255

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

It’s also worth keeping in mind that regardless of how the founders’ common stock is divided, there will be future issuance of stock that will dilute the founders over the lifecycle of the company. Next, those that were forgoing some or all salary prior to Series A got an additional chunk for that.

Cofounder 173

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 173

maplebutter.com

JANUARY 8, 2013

2) Co-Founders are the largest form of dilution (if you’re raising) 3) Everything around LeanStartup / Customer Development 4) Understand the micro economics of your business early. Co-founders are the highest form of dilution to a business. When starting a new venture, esp one in concept phase should you be drawing a salary?

Technical Review 44

Technical Review Startup Cofounder Software Review 44