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Most Common Early Start-up Mistakes

Both Sides of the Table

Founder vesting. Yesterday I wrote a blog posting on founder vesting (see here ). You should implement restricted stock with vesting at the earliest stages in your company -even before the VC’s ask. Founder vesting is an insurance policy for all team members involved.

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How to Protect Your Startup Founder’s Shares

Startup Professionals Musings

In reality, so-called “founder’s” shares are simply common stock, issued at the time of startup incorporation, for a very low price, and normally allocated to the multiple initial players commensurate with their investment or role. These shares are allocated and committed, but not really issued and owned (vested) until later.

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The Co-Founder Mythology

Both Sides of the Table

It is increasingly popular to have “founder dating&# or “startup weekend hackathons&# of some variety or the other. Startups have high failure rates. And some of them will be from startups that are already very successful. I wrote about many of the early-stage startup mistakes here. That’s OK.

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How To Prevent Your Founder’s Shares From Vaporizing

Startup Professionals Musings

Even though initial stock has no value or market, it is extremely valuable in dividing entity ownership between multiple co-founders, commensurate with their investment, contribution and role. Startup owners need to assume a three to five year wait for a liquidity event, such as acquisition or going public, before they can cash out.

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8 Keys To Maximizing Your New Venture Stock Net Worth

Startup Professionals Musings

Even though initial stock has no value or market, it is extremely valuable in dividing entity ownership between multiple co-founders, commensurate with their investment, contribution and role. Startup owners need to assume a three to five year wait for a liquidity event, such as acquisition or going public, before they can cash out.

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Founder’s Stock Is Gold, If You Know The Rules

Startup Professionals Musings

In reality, so-called “Founder’s” shares are simply common stock, issued at the time of startup incorporation, for a very low price, and normally allocated to the multiple initial players commensurate with their investment or role. These shares are allocated and committed, but not really issued and owned (vested) until later.

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The New Deal – A Founding CEOs Value is Non Linear

Steve Blank

The customary vesting model has founders vest their stock over 4-years , and when the founding CEO gets in over their head the VC’s bring in professional management. Every VC knows that the founding CEO is the individual you throw into the chaotic battle of a startup. Preparing For Chaos. That’s the source of the trouble.

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