One story I enjoyed discovering that is similar to what you're suggesting is the early equity grants at Wizards of the Coast (publisher of Magic: the Gathering)

One story I enjoyed discovering that is similar to what you're suggesting is the early equity grants at Wizards of the Coast (publisher of Magic: the Gathering). The founder was liberal with giving out equity to people who were helping build the company, not just the pure cash investors. I too think the value early employees add in building a company far outweigh the equity grants that have become "standard" while the founders retain the vast majority of equity. > I think it was my old friend from Walla Walla, Franc Sawatzki, who donated a drafting table that we valued at something like $100. Given that the sale to Hasbro yielded over $1,400 per share, that $100 “investment” yielded something like $280,000 a decade later. Not bad! https://www.gwern.net/docs/economics/2013-adkison-wizardsofthecostequitydistribution.html https://www.gwern.net/docs/economics/2013-adkison-wizardsoft...