Startup Equity: Isn’t It Refreshing? (maybe not) – (Part 6 of an n part series)

Dec 14,2016December 14, 2016
By In Articles, Compensation Philosophy, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Other Rewards, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , ,

The historically long periods between the startup and “big event” for companies has given rise to many issues that were...

Startup Equity: Synthetic Equity or Sharing Without Sharing (Part 5 of an n part series)

Dec 06,2016December 6, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , ,

When you hear “equity compensation” and startups, you immediately think of stock options. More recently RSUs (restricted stock units that...

Startup Equity: Comparing Your “Currency” to a Competitor’s (Part 4 of an n part series)

Nov 28,2016November 28, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

Comparing base bay is relatively easy, equity not so much. A dollar is a dollar. And, if a dollar isn’t...

Startup Equity: Why are VCs Getting so Stingy with Equity? (Part 3 of an n part series)

Nov 17,2016November 17, 2016
By In Articles, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Does this familiar? You had a great idea and turned it into a company. Somehow you got to the point...

Startup Equity: 409A vs Investor Value (part 2 of an n part series)

Nov 09,2016November 9, 2016
By In Articles, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Performance Units, Private Companies, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

We have all seen the headlines, “XYZ receives $100M in funding at a $3B valuation.” We seldom see the “other”...

%-#-$ – Startup Equity: It’s Enough to Make You Swear!

Oct 26,2016October 26, 2016
By In Articles, Communication, Compensation Philosophy, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Performance Units, Private Companies, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , ,

Figuring out the right amount of equity compensation at startups is a challenge. How much should I grant? How big...

OMG! You Were Right All Along!

Oct 06,2016October 6, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Communication, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Sales Compensation, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STITags , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remember that time you spent weeks modeling a new incentive plan only to have it shot down? They explained that...

The Real Cost of Mismanaged Incentives: Wells Fargo

Sep 29,2016September 29, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, so much for the warm-hearted caffeinated, pick-me-up from the Comp Café. Today is a steaming jolt of quadruple espresso...