CTO Hire Entrepreneur Equity 
Both Sides of the Table
NOVEMBER 19, 2009
(In case it’s not obvious it’s a play on the Nike slogan, “Just Do It.&# ) I believe that being successful as an entrepreneur requires you to get lots of things done. Entrepreneurs make fast decisions and move forward knowing that at best 70% of their decisions are going to be right. This paralyzes most people.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 9, 2020
I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you “deserve” 90% of the equity.
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Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 8, 2013
The reason is that good attributes apply equally well to “external” partners, as they do to internal partners, like a co-founder or CTO. Most entrepreneurs work long hours and weekends to get the job done. Partner decisions are more important than hiring decisions. Compatible work styles. No historical baggage.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 1, 2023
I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a cofounder or two. So, the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you “deserve” 90% of the equity.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
I always tell entrepreneurs that two heads are better than one, so the first task in many startups is finding a co-founder or two. So the first question I usually get is what percent of the company or equity is that person worth? Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you “deserve” 90% of the equity.
Feld Thoughts
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
This week they set out to create their cap table and hire a CTO. The vesting schedule protects each of the co-founders in case one gets hit by a bus or decides to drop the project after a short period of time. Equity is split 55% and 45%, but where is that officially recorded? Time to update the cap table.
SoCal CTO
FEBRUARY 25, 2010
This is not only sad but incredibly frustrating, because it is so easy to see how a great technology can be developed and commercialized if only - if only the CTO hadn't been impulsive and insecure and brought on a business partner too early in the game. … Mark Suster has similar advice in Hiring at a Startup? Lack of confidence?
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