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

Jan 23,2017January 23, 2017
By In Articles, Communication, Compensation Philosophy, Compensation Plan Design, Equity Compensation, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Performance Units, Private Companies, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , ,

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)

Jan 11,2017January 11, 2017
By In Articles, Communication, Compensation Plan Design, Equity Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Private Companies, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Start-up Pay, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , ,

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

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...

Broadway Acts on Sharing Success

Oct 17,2016October 17, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Compensation Philosophy, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Long Term Incentives, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You build it. You buy it. This may become the new mantra on Broadway. The original cast of Hamilton was...

A Small Problem for Compensation Professionals

Jun 07,2016June 7, 2016
By In Articles, Bonus, Compensation Philosophy, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Executive Compensation, Long Term Incentives, Other Rewards, Pay For Performance, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Say on Pay, Short-Term Incentives - STI, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is not the article I intended to post today. I had something else ready to go, but realized this...

Why Equity and Not Just a Bigger Salary?

May 23,2016May 23, 2016
By In Articles, Base Pay / Salary, 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This February, the Harvard Business Review published Stop Paying Executives for Performance” by Dan Cable and Freek Vermeulen. The basis...

Why is it SO DIFFICULT to Get Equity Amounts Right?

May 03,2016May 3, 2016
By In Articles, Communication, Compensation Philosophy, Equity Compensation, ESPP, Other Rewards, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, RSU, SAR-Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock OptionsTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

Let me start this by saying that there is little new in this post. If you have been a senior...