Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

The founders along with all the other employees would vest their stock over 4 years (earning 1/48 a month). They had to hang around at least a year to get the first quarter of their stock (this was called the “cliff”). Some founders have three-year vesting. Today, these are no longer hard and fast rules.

Founder 252

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 252

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.

Cofounder 173

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 173

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 21, 2010

A “warrant&# is a right, but not an obligation for a company to buy stock in your company at a future date and at a pre-agreed price. Think of it as similar to an employee stock option. So let’s think first about employee options and how they can be similar to company warrants. Should You Offer Them?

Warrant 298

Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

Startup Company Lawyer

FEBRUARY 21, 2010

Due to aggregate liquidation preferences that may exceed the acquisition price in an M&A deal, common stock may be rendered worthless. If you can’t figure this out yourself, you should probably build a liquidation preference spreadsheet to model how liquidation preferences work depending on M&A transaction value.

Retention 31

Retention Liquidation Preference Employee Common Stock 31

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 26, 2010

Give one percent equity to each outside board member vesting over four years of service. Pay early stage board members of companies that are not lifestyle businesses one percent of the fully diluted equity in the form of an option that vests over four years of service. Here is my best advice, based upon many boards and many years.

Stock Options 66

Stock Options Early Stage Stock Vesting 66

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

2) Fairness to other early employees in the company : This is a very critical and important point, that is often overlooked by founders. In most situations that I have come across, the founders usually have a significantly longer tenure working at the company than even the earliest employees and so a founders-only cut-off is acceptable.

Founder 87

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 87

K9 Ventures

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

2) Fairness to other early employees in the company : This is a very critical and important point, that is often overlooked by founders. In most situations that I have come across, the founders usually have a significantly longer tenure working at the company than even the earliest employees and so a founders-only cut-off is acceptable.

Founder 84

Founder Common Stock Preferred Stock Stock 84

ithacaVC

JUNE 20, 2011

2. You need (or think you need) a stock option plan: granting stock options (and other forms of equity compensation to employees like restricted stock) should be done under a written equity incentive plan. And each award to a given employee requires a separate grant agreement laying out the terms of the grant.

Stock Options 58

Stock Options Vesting Subscription Agreement Founder Vesting 58

ithacaVC

DECEMBER 13, 2013

They are typically pretty simple: (i) shares owned by founders and (ii) shares authorized for issuance in a stock option pool, some of which may be issued to employees already and some of which will be available for future issuance. That is fine, and should be in the form of option grants vesting over time.

Cap Table 67

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Option Pool Liquidation Preference 67

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

Term-sheets for preferred stock offerings are designed to protect the investor in case things don’t go as well as planned. These include: ·       Vesting of Founder Stock. These include: ·       Vesting of Founder Stock.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Furthermore, there are various forms of equity, such as preferred stock, common stock, and convertible notes, which influence the present and potential future investors. Preference shares. A class of stock with special rights as described in your startup is called preference shares. Convertible notes.

Cap Table 112

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Stock Options Option Pool 112

www.paulgraham.com

APRIL 28, 2010

The reason is that employees are investors too—oftheir time—and they want just as much to be able to cash out. Ifyour competitors offer employees stock options that might make themrich, while you make it clear you plan to stay private, yourcompetitors will get the best people. Theres only common stock at this stage.

Technical Review 76

Technical Review Startup Software Review Angel Investor 76