The Next Web

JUNE 15, 2012

From Silicon Valley to Peoria, Illinois, cash-strapped startups look for inventive way to finance their business – often handing out equity to employees, consultants, vendors, and other service providers. However, if you are thinking about compensating non-employees with equity, make sure to consider the following points: 1.

Equity 116

Equity Stock Options Vesting Stock 116

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 20, 2019

If angel investors are pressuring you to set up a board and if you don’t have the leverage to push back a little then I might suggest a 3-person board in which all 3 seats are appointed by the common stock and you agree to appoint one of these seats to the angel investor but perhaps make it either time based or event based.

Venture Capital 236

Venture Capital Startup Angel Investor Silicon Valley 236

Up and Running

DECEMBER 1, 2015

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. If however you are giving a “normal employee” an incentive stock option plan (more on that later), that’s entirely different. Finding great employees first.

Equity 60

Equity Employee Stock Options Vesting 60

Scott Edward Walker

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Indeed, you must make sure that all of the shares of common stock issued by the corporation to the founders are subject to vesting restrictions – which means that ownership of the shares would vest over time (instead of all of the shares being owned outright on day one). Vesting Restrictions.

Vesting 89

Vesting Software Review IP Intellectual Property 89

View from Seed

DECEMBER 4, 2014

You can then work with your law firm to formally draw up founder common stock paperwork either then or subsequently. 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.

Equity 315

Equity Founder Sweat Equity Cofounder 315

Steve Blank

APRIL 26, 2022

They offered desperate founders more cash but insisted on new terms, rewriting all the old stock agreements that previous investors and employees had. Some even insisted that all prior preferred stock had to be converted to common stock. Founders rationalize it’s good for their employees. You’re not.

Cram Down 417

Cram Down Founder Venture Capital Recapitalization 417

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 23, 2014

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. Vesting always stops when an employee leaves the company. Stock dilution control.

Stock 256

Stock Vesting Common Stock Founder Vesting 256

Up and Running

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

For a business that anticipates needing, for example, $500,000 in startup capital, that means that best-case scenario Klemm can expect to give up half of his business’s common stock (and an even larger percentage of control of the business once the deal’s fine print provisions are considered). Those days are long gone.

Private Equity 94

Private Equity Pre-Money Valuation Equity Startup 94

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 22, 2013

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. Vesting always stops when an employee leaves the company. Stock dilution control.

Vesting 245

Vesting Common Stock Stock Founder Vesting 245

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

You can then work with your law firm to formally draw up founder common stock paperwork either then or subsequently. 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 255

Cofounder Equity Founder Sweat Equity 255

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? If you want to give them a 50% discount offer them $1 of common-stock warrants (no liquidation preference) for every $1 of stock they buy. Him: Not so good. Obviously he’d be pissed off. I hadn’t really thought about it.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 7, 2010

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. Vesting always stops when an employee leaves the company. Stock survives investment.

Stock 214

Stock Vesting Common Stock Founder Vesting 214

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 13, 2013

If the money comes from professional investors it usually has a “liquidation preference” meaning that their money comes out before the founders or common stock. (If And wants to structure a huge payout for the employees that will remain. I know many rank-and-file employees. But evidence suggests otherwise.

Liquidation Preference 357

Liquidation Preference Early Stage Retention Lock-up Period 357

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

www.inc.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Employee Benefits. Jumpstart wasnt much at the time, just four employees working from home offices. But as Arizona Bay grew--it now has 40 employees and more than a dozen clients--Graham began to worry that he was missing out. Financing A Small Business. Business Taxes. Selling A Business. Bookkeeping. Exit Strategies.

Arizona 40

Arizona Equity Iowa Venture Capital 40

Scott Edward Walker

OCTOBER 19, 2020

Accordingly, legal counsel must review all of the written agreements between the founder and his prior employer (as well as the employee handbook/manual) to determine if there are any provisions that may give the prior employer rights to the startup’s IP. . In other words, the startup actually purchases the pre-incorporation IP.

IP 40

IP Software Review Founder Technical Review 40

Gust

MARCH 16, 2014

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. Vesting always stops when an employee leaves the company. Stock dilution control.

Stock 175

Stock Vesting Common Stock Founder Vesting 175

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?

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Warrant Dilution Startup Stock Options 298

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

Agile VC

DECEMBER 4, 2014

You can then work with your law firm to formally draw up founder common stock paperwork either then or subsequently. 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

venturehacks.com

MARCH 21, 2008

Super advisors The super advisor can get as much stock as a board member: 1%-2% of a company’s post-Series A stock. Or they bring you a handful of great employees. Advisor compensation Whether you’re hiring a normal advisor or super advisor: Advisory shares are usually issued as common stock options.

Advisory Board 44

Advisory Board Cap Table Vesting Equity 44

Gust

JUNE 7, 2014

So, here is the typical payout order, from first to last: 1) Salaries owed to employees. 5) Senior Preferred Stock and warrants. 7) Junior Preferred Stock and warrants. 9) Common Stock (including any Preferred that converted to Common, any exercised options, and all Founders stock) and Common stock warrants.

Warrant 157

Warrant Preferred Stock Early Stage Common Stock 157

keen.io

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

From there, I began googling things like “first employee startup equity” and “startup offer negotiation.” These were the best resources I found: Equity for Early Employees in Early Stage Startups. Startup Equity for Early Employees. We had a big team meeting, with all three founders and all three potential new employees.

Salary 50

Salary Equity Startup San Francisco 50

Scott Edward Walker

NOVEMBER 22, 2015

Accordingly, each founder should carefully review any agreements with his prior employer and the employee handbook to determine if there are any provisions that may give the prior employer rights to the startup’s IP. Founders should also make sure that when they leave their prior employer they don’t take anything with them (e.g.,

IP 40

IP Software Review Due Diligence Intellectual Property 40

www.mattbartus.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

People tend to underestimate how much record keeping is involved with managing employees and consultants, and this just adds an unacceptable extra burden. First, you’d probably want them to receive common stock, not preferred stock (which is the likely next round). link] mattbartus. link] Casey Allen.

Equity 40

Equity Vesting Silicon Valley Intellectual Property 40

ReadWriteStart

JANUARY 28, 2022

Common stock. The holding of common stock in a company indicates ownership in the corporation. Investors of common stock are eligible for : The choice of the Board of Directors. However, the holder of a warrant holds a leveraged bet on the corporation’s common shares. Preferred shares.

Valuation 108

Valuation Equity Warrant Common Stock 108

Startup Company Lawyer

MAY 4, 2009

Description: How to set-up the right company structure to attract great employees and investors. The Founder Institute has developed Class F common stock , which provides founders with a maximum amount of control over the founder’s company. Mentors: Munjal Shah | Alain Raynaud | Peter Pham | Joe Betts-LaCroix |.

Founder 28

Founder Warrant San Francisco Intellectual Property 28

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

www.payne.org

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Startup Equity For Employees. 2 Stock Classes: Common and Preferred. 5 Stock vs Options. 6 Founders / Restricted Stock. The re-heating of the venture funded tech market has pushed a heat up of the hiring market, and Im getting more calls from friends asking for help understanding startup stock (equity) offers.

Equity 56

Equity Employee Vesting Preferred Stock 56

Tim Keane

JANUARY 12, 2010

These include: ·       Vesting of Founder Stock. Especially in situations where the founders have a large position and are key employees, it is not uncommon for investors to request that they agree to have some portion of their holdings vest on a schedule.

Term Sheet 68

Term Sheet Valuation Dividend Liquidation Preference 68

Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Determine the allocation of equity among co-founders, early employees or other service providers, and future contributors as applicable, as well as the vesting schedule , if any, that will apply. Make escrow arrangements for restricted stock (i.e., Offer letters for employees. Pick a name for the new legal entity (e.g.,

Intellectual Property 139

Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement Delaware Stock 139

Berkonomics

MARCH 8, 2018

The option price should be set by appraisal under IRS rule 409a, and certainly should be low enough to recognize that common stock options are not worth as much as preferred stock, given the many preferences of the latter. Expenses for travel are often reimbursed by the corporation.

Early Stage 102

Early Stage Vesting Stock Options Preferred Stock 102

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? If you want to give them a 50% discount offer them $1 of common-stock warrants (no liquidation preference) for every $1 of stock they buy. Him: Not so good. Obviously he’d be pissed off. I hadn’t really thought about it. Me: I know.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

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. Total share ownership is the sum of the common stock, stock options, preferred stock, and any other stock category for a single individual.

Cap Table 112

Cap Table Pre-Money Valuation Stock Options Option Pool 112

Austin Startup

JULY 22, 2021

All finalists will receive: A fast track into the Capital Factory portfolio where you will receive opportunities to get in front of potential investors, customers and employees. Any software, hardware, or CPG startup in Texas with a female founder or co-founder can apply to participate. Female Founders!

San Antonio 107

San Antonio Dallas Houston Founder 107

Haystack

JULY 8, 2018

So, that’s why I’m writing this short post specifically for 1) employees of early-stage startups and 2) the earliest investors in these startups, who are often themselves new to the entire sector. For employees at early-stage companies… the equity you’ve been granted is likely common stock, just like the founders.

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Early Stage Dilution Private Equity Equity 95