Honestly, the risks for early employees are closer to the investors risks. Early employees are just as subject to the whims of the founders as investors are.

Honestly, the risks for early employees are closer to the investors risks. Early employees are just as subject to the whims of the founders as investors are. It would be much more balanced if early employee options were from the same class of preferred stock that investors are granted. That way they at least get something out of a low-value buy-out they had no control over.