Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

My original post was directed at hiring managers. It said that I didn’t believe it was a good idea to hire job hoppers. My view still stands – for many hiring managers a large factor in looking through resumes of somebody who is 30+ and has never worked somewhere for more than 18 months will be the job hopping element.

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Venture Capital Hiring Software Review Stock Options 285

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

In the midst of high-tech development, funding, and selling, someone has to keep the office network running, get processes documented, and manage to keep everyone happy and busy. The rest can come from early hires (with stock options to assure commitment), equity investors, or even strategic partners.

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Technical Cofounder Cofounder Advisory Board Stock Options 120

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 17, 2017

It was a stock option incentive related “expense” but I bet you didn’t know that because in an era where we only read the headlines — they must be a train wreck losing billions. If you don’t have a strong balance sheet and can’t hire more people that’s fine — but understand this may lead to slower growth. Two-f **g-billion!

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Stock Options Startup Dilution Venture Capital 227

Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 2, 2010

If you’re a pure startup and haven’t raised any money – you might change the life of every person you hire. I always encourage people to allocate a few extra stock options to those that join super early when your company is risky and they just believed in you. Sure, you can get away with less, but why?

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Europe France San Francisco Chicago 352

Ben's Blog

OCTOBER 6, 2011

From hire to retire, how good is your company? Some of the questions that they will help you answer: Recruiting and hiring. How do your salary and stock option packages compare to the companies that you compete with for talent? Is your management team world-class in all phases? How do you know? Training and Integration.

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Management Development Team Review Stock Options Technical Review 78

Reid Hoffman

DECEMBER 10, 2020

The other reason I could decide so quickly is that I really know networks and marketplaces. Part of the reason that Blitzscaling opens with the Airbnb story is that it demonstrates how when you win a winner-take-most market with strong network effects, it can be not just industry-transforming, but world-transforming.

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Hosting Hockey Stick IPO Silicon Valley 69

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

There is such a thing as a “diamond in the rough” and let’s face it – if the company was totally rocking would they be hiring you? Being a CEO begets the network to be a CEO. the standard 4-6% for a hired-gun CEO). And there’s always a but. You – who hasn’t been CEO before?

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Liquidation Preference Silicon Valley IP 150

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

It doesn’t have to be at a formal networking event. Allow time for people to network (half an hour usually works) and then welcome everyone and do your pitch. Stock Option. Everyone can contribute something, whether it be sales advice, desk space, or an introduction to their network. You can do this anywhere.

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Angel Investor Technical Review Software Review Accredited Investor 159

David Teten

AUGUST 1, 2019

You’re investing your time, reputation, network, and probably also capital. Negotiate Your Equity And Salary With Stock Option Counsel Tips. Private company stock option grants: a founder’s guide to who gets what, when. How to assign stock options in early-stage startups. Starting Work.

Private Equity 60

Private Equity Equity Due Diligence Portfolio 60

David Teten

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

You’re investing your time, reputation, network, and probably also capital. Negotiate Your Equity And Salary With Stock Option Counsel Tips. Private company stock option grants: a founder’s guide to who gets what, when. How to assign stock options in early-stage startups. Starting Work.

Due Diligence 60

Due Diligence Stock Options Covenant Private Equity 60

YoungUpstarts

FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Two of my most senior hires were top women who were the best for the job. So it’s more about a broad network. Early in my climb I was hyper-focused on title and pay, realizing later that good health was like a stock option that pays off later. You are the first line of defense in a healthy ascent.

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Switzerland Private Equity Stock Options Equity 264

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 6, 2012

Stock options, if you get them, won’t help you pay the mortgage for a least a couple of years, and the value then is totally unpredictable. Start networking. People hire people they know, so nurture your relationship with friends already active in startups. Join local organizations. The hours are long and unpredictable.

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Silicon Valley Burn Rate Startup Stock Options 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 4, 2011

Stock options, if you get them, won’t help you pay the mortgage for a least a couple of years, and the value then is totally unpredictable. Start networking. People hire people they know, so nurture your relationship with friends already active in startups. Join local organizations. The hours are long and unpredictable.

Silicon Valley 227

Silicon Valley Burn Rate Startup Stock Options 227

Scalable Startup

AUGUST 9, 2018

They need the money to rent offices, hire staff, and establish their initial presence (website, incorporation, marketing). But to get that Silicon Valley angel funding you have to be part of that social network; most of the rest of the world doesn’t have that frothy environment. Option Two: Post-Launch?—?Raise

Technical Cofounder 20

Technical Cofounder Silicon Valley Early Stage Cofounder 20

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2015

He had a stock option vesting program and had vested a significant amount of his stock but not all. He’s suing the company to get all of his stock options even though he signed a vesting agreement. I’m not being sued but the company is. Most ideas are fungible.

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Vesting Cofounder IP Stock Options 150

The Next Web

SEPTEMBER 16, 2012

Ask them to take you under their wing, bring you around to events, introduce you to their network, etc. What about company stock options? Here is something that they don’t tell you when hiring you, unless you join a rocket-ship, you are probably not going to get anything significant at a startup.

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Stock Options Startup Stock Salary 141

Austin Startup

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

A strong advisor can walk you in the door to the same number of companies as 2–3 new sales hires. The strength of their network is something you’ll want to confirm ahead of signing them on. As for compensation, stock options in the range of 0.1% Never discount the power of a warm intro.

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Advisory Board Sweat Equity Marketing Vertical 48

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 18, 2009

Or maybe it’s not a good friend but you’re a business guy and hooked up with a technical guy you know through the network and you think you’ll work well together or vice-versa. . What if the person performs OK, but not great and you need to hire above him? In fact, most go through tough times at some point.

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Founder Cofounder Equity Stock Options 251

ithacaVC

DECEMBER 9, 2018

I am talking about tension over particular issues (like salary adjustments, stock option grants, strategic direction, etc.). Connections and Exits: often independent directors have networks that can be incredibly helpful connecting the startup to others in the industry/sector. The evidence is pretty compelling.

Stock Options 40

Stock Options Salary Lead Investor Founder 40

Both Sides of the Table

JULY 19, 2011

On balance I usually prefer to recruit people from my network both in terms of saving costs as well as hiring people I know & trust. They know what is “market&# for your recruits in terms of base, bonus & stock options. It can get expensive so you’d probably only do it for a very senior hire.

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Term Sheet PR Liquidation Preference Stock Options 319

Cracking the Code

JUNE 24, 2021

But the Valley in 1999 was a new world of startups, venture capital, and stock options. There were no social networks, let alone sharing economy then, so it took a while to take off. We used different playbooks to scale, either hiring someone local, sending someone from HQ to set up a country, or acqui-hiring.

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Global Europe France Cofounder 62

Hunter Walker

MAY 1, 2016

As a hiring manager, what do you look for in new grads? AJ: Startups hire just in time. Despite all the best intentions, an early-stage company that needs someone to start in June probably won’t start hiring until the last week of May. HW: When new grads ask you about getting into startups, what advice do you give them?

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New York City New York Los Angeles Startup 48

Hunter Walker

MAY 1, 2016

As a hiring manager, what do you look for in new grads? AJ: Startups hire just in time. Despite all the best intentions, an early-stage company that needs someone to start in June probably won’t start hiring until the last week of May. HW: When new grads ask you about getting into startups, what advice do you give them?

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New York City New York Los Angeles Startup 48

chrischandler.name

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Equity to a developer works the same way, except it’s often approached as hiring an employee instead of bringing on an investor. Your stock options are worth zero until you successfully exit and, even then, only if the strike price is better than market value. Proof of execution is what matters today, not ideas.

Equity 40

Equity Developer Entrepreneur Syndicate 40

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

The IT and networking "big boys" rule and any start up apps are summarily squashed on the premise that they may upset the status quo re: IT infrastructure. The US is headed to be a second rate or third rate power if policy isn't changed to permit new and ground breaking applications to operate in large networks.

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infochachkie.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

At the early stages of your company’s life, you cannot rely on disinterested, hired guns to define your company’s key tasks. The final straw came when I asked the latest 25-year old a simple ‘yes / no’ question related to stock options. What would be the best way to get results without hiring a consultant from Silicon Valley?

Equity 40

Equity Silicon Valley Cofounder PR 40

A Smart Bear: Startups and Marketing for Geeks

MARCH 11, 2014

So hiring more people and being around more people and getting more things done is not actually one of the reasons. You may call it employee number one with a really low salary and really generous stock options and as the company grows, you’ll fix their salary. I’m going to hire another engineer.

Technical Cofounder 220

Technical Cofounder Cofounder Software Review Management 220

thestartuplawyer.com

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Contact The Startup Lawyer: Home Page About Contact FAQs Glossary Ryan Roberts Law: Home Page Social Networks: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr Delicious Digg Last.FM Contact The Startup Lawyer: Home Page About Contact FAQs Glossary Ryan Roberts Law: Home Page Social Networks: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr Delicious Digg Last.FM

Cofounder 40

Cofounder Founder Preferred Stock Startup 40

techcrunch.com

OCTOBER 23, 2010

Inevitably, the excuses begin: I need to hire people to build the product. In later posts I’m going to get into more detail on specific topics like hiring, raising money, what types of ideas have the potential to get big, finding your founders, and the like. Like I said, forget everything else and just get your product out the door.

Technical Review 84

Technical Review Cofounder Technical Cofounder Software Review 84