4 ms·

If they won't even tell you the # of fully diluted shares, I'd run away fast. Sounds like you made the right move.

• tptacek 16y ago
  I might not run (this is unfortunately a common practice), but I would be explicit in negotiation that you value an options grant without that information at $0.00. You can say that politely, or even apologetically, but make it clear that you'd give some flexibility on salary or paid vacation days in exchange for more information (don't be specific about this though).
  • donaldc 16y ago
    make it clear that you'd give some flexibility on salary or paid vacation days in exchange for more information I disagree. You shouldn't trade anything for the information. A company should make the information available if they want the value of the options to be considered greater than $0. You are already considering trading some salary for the options, but the onus is on the offering company to make enough information available to convince you that the options are worth it.
    • tptacek 16y ago
      Your argument is principled but not very pragmatic. When a potential employer gives you anything they consider "significant" equity (ie, worth mentioning as a major part of your comp plan), they are implicitly discounting your salary to make up for it. If you accept their offer, you have given them salary flexibility without receiving consideration. In reality, information is very much something that negotiating parties exchange. But, I agree that you should reasonably expect enough information to value your equity if equity is a major part of your comp. All I'm really saying is, make it clear to your counterparty that the lack of information about your equity is raising your negotiating floor. Which, logically, it must. But I am also specifically not saying, "offer 5k off your salary in exchange for valuation information".