Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2013

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Facebook when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for when I join a startup today?” compensation entrepreneur startup stock options business' 7% Product Manager,2 -.3%

Stock Options 224

Stock Options Stock Advisory Board Startup 224

Up and Running

DECEMBER 1, 2015

Of course, not every equity compensation story is a David Choe Story. If you’re thinking about extending equity to an employee or a vendor (as in the example above), you should know that the topic is multi-faceted. Make sure you understand all of your options before making any decisions. Different types of equity compensation.

Equity 60

Equity Employee Stock Options Vesting 60

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Facebook when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for when I join a startup today?” Thus, stock doesn’t “pay the mortgage” today, so to speak. Advisory Board Member, 1% Senior Engineer,3 -.7%

Stock Options 230

Stock Options Stock Advisory Board Startup 230

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Facebook when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire or better? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for or expect when I join a startup today?” Thus, options don’t “pay the mortgage” today, so to speak. 7% Product Manager,2 -.3%

Equity 237

Equity Stock Options Advisory Board Stock 237

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Cofounder 144

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2014

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Cofounder 245

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Startup 245

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2015

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Facebook when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for or expect when I join a startup today?” Thus, options don’t “pay the mortgage” today, so to speak. 7% Product Manager,2 -.3%

Stock Options 120

Stock Options Stock Advisory Board Startup 120

Up and Running

OCTOBER 19, 2021

As a startup looking to hire your dream team, this news can be exciting. A recent report from CB Insights found that 14% of startups fail because they didn’t have the right team. If you’re ready to recruit your startup dream team, here’s how to do it. 4 qualities to look for in a good startup employee.

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Startup Salary Stock Options Employee 127

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 8, 2022

Most entrepreneurs struggle with many startup founders quandaries in building their business, and these key dilemmas are probably the biggest source of pain and failure for the entrepreneur lifestyle. You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Otherwise exit and startup with another idea.

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Founder Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event 325

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 14, 2017

Boards are not appointed to be founder-friendly lapdogs for the 1–3 founders who start companies and usually own the largest equity positions in the company. ICOs certainly have a place in startup financing. Executives run the day-to-day so often the board is more involved as a sparring partner at key intervals.

Cofounder 217

Cofounder Stock Options Equity Technical Review 217

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 10, 2016

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Sweat Equity 120

Sweat Equity Burn Rate Technical Review Intellectual Property 120

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 8, 2015

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Early stage burn rates over $50K per month, or a runway of less than six months may indicate an inefficient or desperate startup.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Due Diligence Sweat Equity Burn Rate 120

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

If you’re a startup and you don’t have a close relationship with a few law firms you’re really missing one of the most important relationships that any entrepreneur can have. I write about some of the lessons in my post on Startup Mistakes. I know that people have an allergy to lawyers out of fear of being screwed.

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Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 24, 2011

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Microsoft when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for when I join a startup today?” Thus, stock doesn’t “pay the mortgage” today, so to speak. Advisory Board Member, 1% Senior Engineer,3 -.7%

Equity 234

Equity Advisory Board Stock Options Stock 234

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Dealing almost exclusively with first time startup founders, we tackle the following question with nearly all of our CEOs: How much equity should they give to the employees? In one instance, I told a CEO that we typically recommend a 15 percent stock options pool at seed/Series A stage. She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

Equity 154

Equity Employee Option Pool Stock Options 154

Gust

APRIL 9, 2014

Equity dilution works when the same pie is divided among more people. Over time, other people receive pieces of equity in exchange for work (employee stock options), money (seed, angel and venture investors), services (attorneys, directors, etc.). Uncategorized company equity dilution founder investors startup'

Dilution 150

Dilution Equity Vesting Stock Options 150

View from Seed

AUGUST 6, 2015

When someone goes to work for an early startup, the compensation package general includes an annual salary, health insurance, and, instead of fixed-cost performance upside, a percentage of unvested options to purchase equity in the company. What’s the strike price ($ value per) of the options I’m being granted?

Equity 120

Equity Employee Cap Table Stock Options 120

View from Seed

AUGUST 6, 2015

When someone goes to work for an early startup, the compensation package general includes an annual salary, health insurance, and, instead of fixed-cost performance upside, a percentage of unvested options to purchase equity in the company. What’s the strike price ($ value per) of the options I’m being granted?

Equity 120

Equity Employee Cap Table Stock Options 120

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 19, 2011

I recently sat down with Matt Coffin , the founder of LowerMyBills, which sold for $400 million but was very nearly a bankruptcy only a few years early, and talked “startups.&#. Matt is one of the most transparent, focused & honest startup guys you’ll meet. Mark: 10% warrant coverage is like stock options.

Acquisition 304

Acquisition Warrant Customer Term Sheet 304

The Startup Magazine

MAY 19, 2020

For many entrepreneurs and startups, investing in stocks is a good option for building more capital. So knowing more about stocks and trading is critical. A stock, which can also be referred to as a share or equity, is a proof of ownership of a fraction or part of a business entity.

Stock 90

Stock Securities and Exchange Commission United Kingdom Technical Review 90

Austin Startup

JULY 15, 2019

You’ll interact with every VC in Texas and those from Silicon Valley who are investing in Texas and every startup CEO who gets funded. We invest in startups that get funded by all of the top venture capitalists in Texas and Silicon Valley. Capital Factory has been the most active early stage tech investor in Texas since 2013.

Texas 56

Texas Technical Review Silicon Valley Venture Capital 56

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 10, 2019

Most entrepreneurs struggle with many startup founders quandaries in building their business, and these key dilemmas are probably the biggest source of pain and failure for the entrepreneur lifestyle. You have very little money, and you don’t want to give away your equity. Otherwise exit and startup with another idea.

Hockey Stick 243

Hockey Stick Cofounder Liquidity Event Startup 243

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. You need to have a technical genius on the team to get your startup product off the ground. Outsourcing your core competency does not work.

Technical Cofounder 120

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 120

David Teten

AUGUST 1, 2019

Negotiating Employment with a Private Equity Firm – 7 Surprises to Expect. Joining An Early Stage Startup? Negotiate Your Equity And Salary With Stock Option Counsel Tips. Here’s How Startup Founders Should Offer Employee Equity. How to assign stock options in early-stage startups.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Equity Due Diligence Portfolio 60

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2017

Wouldn’t you like to be one of the lucky people who joined Google and Facebook when these were startups, and now be a multi-millionaire or better? So people ask me “How many shares should I ask for or expect when I join a startup today?” Thus, options don’t “pay the mortgage” today, so to speak. 7% Product Manager,2 -.3%

Stock 140

Stock Stock Options Advisory Board Startup 140

Steve Blank

MARCH 16, 2016

There are many reasons to found a startup. There are many reasons to work at a startup. To most founders a startup is not a job, but a calling. But startups require money upfront for product development and later to scale. Traditional lenders (banks) think that startups are too risky for a traditional bank loan.

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Liquidity Event Founder Liquidation Preference Venture Capital 120

The Startup Magazine

JUNE 26, 2020

Save these hard details for the professionals by consulting what startup lawyers will contribute to your launch immediately. If you are wondering what can a startup lawyer help with, your answers are on their way. Startup lawyers can help you decide on which structure is the best for you based on your finances, plans and goals.

Intellectual Property 154

Intellectual Property Startup SEC Stock Options 154

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Advisor. ); STARTUP. Should You Share Equity with Consultants? To grow his cash-strapped start-up, Parker ended up sharing equity -- not only with employees, but also with consultants and vendors. Parker found that equity as compensation helped build loyalty to his company -- even among consultants. Email address: Home.

Fractional CTO 40

Fractional CTO Equity Iowa Technical Cofounder 40

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

According to the Angel Capital Association: Angels (private money) invest in 55,000 startups each year versus 1,500 companies by VC (venture capital) funding. ” Yes, the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) is exciting, and it will bring a lot more potential investors into the marketplace. Stock Option.

Angel Investor 159

Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

crowdSPRING Blog

NOVEMBER 7, 2014

We like to talk about logo design , web design , startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and various random stuff! Small Business and Startups: Customer Service Marketing Manifesto – crowdspring.co/1wYokDi. Running a Startup: What Life Is Really Like in the Early Days – crowdspring.co/1wNhIpk.

Social Media 99

Social Media Small Business Design Media 99

Business Plan Blog

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

Reserve 10-20% Of Your Company’s Outstanding Equity For A Stock Option Plan. Equity incentives are a major form of compensation for most emerging growth and technology companies. It is critical for a start-up to consider this reality and reserve 10-20% of its outstanding equity for a stock option plan.

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Stock Options Stock Option Pool Dilution 61

chrischandler.name

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

If you’ve considered finding and asking a developer for his or her time in exchange for sweat equity, I’m going to strongly advise you against it. All the engineers I trust to execute a project swiftly, professionally and with quality, especially under startup conditions, will not touch an upfront equity deal with a 10-foot pole.

Equity 40

Equity Developer Entrepreneur Syndicate 40

prosperati.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Prosperati HOME BLOG ABOUT CONTACT Blog Can A Startup Do OffShore Development? Part 2 Posted 07.15.2009 in Blog In my previous article ( Can a Startup Do OffShore Development? Company Culture Once we completed the hiring of our key staff, the next step was to create a great startup culture. Culture creation is not easy.

Offshore 40

Offshore Malaysia Developer Stock Options 40

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 27, 2013

And you can often throw in a separate action like approving stock-option grants, getting approval for CAPEX spend, discussing fund raising timing – whatever. You may know how much to pay in cash or equity for your new VP Engineering. Startup Advice' Always seek input.

Advisory Board 365

Advisory Board CTO Hire Fractional CTO Los Angeles 365

VC Adventure

AUGUST 15, 2018

Most boards did some level of work to determine the FMV of a company’s stock but generally options were priced between 10% and 15% of a company’s then preferred price (because common equity sits behind preferred equity there is typically a discount applied to the FMV of common stock to account for this “overhang”).

Valuation 48

Valuation Common Stock Cap Table Software Review 48

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 26, 2018

When a small business startup manages to secure external investment magical things happen. Amongst the benefits of attracting external investors to a startup is helping to preserve owner resources, allowing growth to continue, accelerating research and development and product rollout.

Stock 147

Stock Stock Options Startup Security 147

www.drowningamerican.com

JUNE 22, 2012

Next → How we Hire for Sweat Equity (Part 2)… Posted on April 7, 2011 by Travis Biziorek. I’m not FaceBook or Twitter and have a s**t-ton of potentially imminent IPO stock options to offer someone. I want the guys (or girls) that have worked in a startup, but in a lower level position. Post navigation.

Sweat Equity 40

Sweat Equity Equity Hiring Technical Review 40