Right amount of ESOPs
As a software engineer with 1.5yrs of experience, how much ESOPs shall I ask from a Seed funded startup. I am here since initial days of company. Is it a certain percentage of valuation? What's the market standard?
Jordon Gabriel
Stealth
8 months ago
Depends on what will you do?
Jordon Hyrum
Stealth
8 months ago
I'll be working on the backend. Also will be guiding the upcoming engineers as I have most of the business side context.
If your base salary is say 30lpa, ask 30 lakhs worth of ESOPs or more.
Ask for 1cr over 4yrs. Seriously. Say you're dedicated to the mission, you're in for the long game and you're gonna make them succeed. When that happens you'd like to be compensated.
Since the first grant will be after one year, and you'll anyway not be a part of any liquidation in the first few as you wouldn't vest, this is what you want.
Ask them to bring their best to the table, while reassuring how much you love the mission and how this company is what you believe is the next big thing. Ask to talk to the founders (if you already haven't, and if then once again).
Accept whatever they offer, it could be between 0.75x-3x your base salary.
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