3 ms·

Depending on the size of the startup at the time you join, I found it fairly easy to negotiate an extension to the exercise window. Likely because so few people

by sky_rw 6y ago

Depending on the size of the startup at the time you join, I found it fairly easy to negotiate an extension to the exercise window. Likely because so few people even bring it up.

seibelj 6y ago
There was 0% chance of that occurring as the CEO was a total shark. You would be shocked at how much of the cap table he retained vs. all the crazy funding shenanigans that happened. Very astute player of the game, he did very well. I will invest in his future companies but never work for him again.
- eli 6y ago
  Why is it ok to fund that behavior if it’s victimizing people?
  - seibelj 6y ago
    I was an employee not a cofounder. I agreed to the terms. He will do anything to succeed. I invest money in people who succeed. That is my opinion about where I will place investments in hyper-risky early stage startups. The biggest jerk in this whole thing is the USA tax code / IRS that made me pay taxes on paper gains.
- tehlike 6y ago
  Can you name the company, I'm curious
  - seibelj 6y ago
    No, sorry. But if you want to go through all of my comment history and google my name you may be able to guess. But I will not confirm anything.
cs-szazz 6y ago
I joined very early (~15 people total at the company) and have been unsuccessful negotiating an increase. I guess the lawyers have to get involved, board has to sign off, and that's tough. Or at least, that's what I've been told.
- sky_rw 6y ago
  This is the ultimate YMMV scenario, and heavily dependent on how bad the company wants you. At the end of the day you need to be in a place where you can walk away from any deal that doesn't make sense. Unfortunately people looking for jobs at startups are usually somewhat desperate.
  - cs-szazz 6y ago
    Fair. I think the company wants me pretty badly, and knows I'll likely stick around because I'm still vesting. So there's no incentive for them to grant an exercise window extension at this point.

by sky_rw 6y ago

Depending on the size of the startup at the time you join, I found it fairly easy to negotiate an extension to the exercise window. Likely because so few people even bring it up.

seibelj 6y ago

There was 0% chance of that occurring as the CEO was a total shark. You would be shocked at how much of the cap table he retained vs. all the crazy funding shenanigans that happened. Very astute player of the game, he did very well. I will invest in his future companies but never work for him again.

eli 6y ago
Why is it ok to fund that behavior if it’s victimizing people?
- seibelj 6y ago
  I was an employee not a cofounder. I agreed to the terms. He will do anything to succeed. I invest money in people who succeed. That is my opinion about where I will place investments in hyper-risky early stage startups. The biggest jerk in this whole thing is the USA tax code / IRS that made me pay taxes on paper gains.
tehlike 6y ago
Can you name the company, I'm curious
- seibelj 6y ago
  No, sorry. But if you want to go through all of my comment history and google my name you may be able to guess. But I will not confirm anything.

cs-szazz 6y ago

I joined very early (~15 people total at the company) and have been unsuccessful negotiating an increase. I guess the lawyers have to get involved, board has to sign off, and that's tough. Or at least, that's what I've been told.

sky_rw 6y ago
This is the ultimate YMMV scenario, and heavily dependent on how bad the company wants you. At the end of the day you need to be in a place where you can walk away from any deal that doesn't make sense. Unfortunately people looking for jobs at startups are usually somewhat desperate.
- cs-szazz 6y ago
  Fair. I think the company wants me pretty badly, and knows I'll likely stick around because I'm still vesting. So there's no incentive for them to grant an exercise window extension at this point.