It should be noted that the choice to allow "early exercise" is made by the company granting the options. While it might be a good tax strategy, you do not (to

It should be noted that the choice to allow "early exercise" is made by the company granting the options. While it might be a good tax strategy, you do not (to the best of my knowledge) have any guaranteed right to be allowed to exercise your options until they vest: http://www.startupcompanylawyer.com/2009/01/11/should-a-company-allow-early-exercise-of-stock-options/ http://www.startupcompanylawyer.com/2009/01/11/should-a-comp...