Stop Building Sinking Ships

Last week esteemed fellow Comp Café writer, Stephanie Thomas, Ph.D., wrote an article asking, “Should You Scrap Your Long-Term Incentive...

Startup Equity: Three Crucial Variables (Part 9 of an n part series)

Startup equity has approximately a gazillion moving parts. But three of these variables are far more important than all of...

Startup Equity: No. They Don’t Get It. (Part 8 of an n part series)

During a recent presentation I did for industry professionals, an attendee claimed that his employees didn’t need additional education on...

Startup Equity: The Most Common Mistake (Part 7 of an n part series)

Here is my 2017 gift to you. I truly believe that equity compensation helped build the technology industry, and therefore...

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

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)

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)

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

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

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!

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

Evolving Equity Like It’s a Flying Machine

Other professionals in HR, compensation and investing frequently ask why I am so passionate about changing the way companies use...