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Have you actually had a startup tell you how many options are out there? I've joined a few different startups all series B or later, and have asked at least 2

Have you actually had a startup tell you how many options are out there? I've joined a few different startups all series B or later, and have asked at least 2 of them how many total shares there were. Neither would tell me.

nostrademons 8y ago
Every startup that's offered me options or RSUs has told me (upon request) what percentage of the company that represents, or given me the total number of outstanding shares and let me do the math. They usually won't share a full cap table, but without knowing the total number of outstanding shares, the dollar value of a share is meaningless. I'd just value the equity of any company that won't share this information at zero.
jiveturkey 8y ago
In 2018+, it doesn't make sense to accept an offer that includes options without knowing how many are outstanding. one late round "startup" i worked for, 300-ish employees and series F (just before I started), but still very much a startup, actually gave very, very detailed info in the option/RSU packet as part of my offer, without me having to ask for it. It included per-round valuation and dilution info, shares outstanding, other good stuff. Not liquidation prefs though. I've never seen an offer packet like that before or since.