https://yourstory.com/2015/02/esops-retention-instruments-for-startups

Growth Manager

Why would you say that? Highly profitable making = higher chances of buyback

Product Manager

AI Engineer

Startups way to lure people towards them by showing them projections of how their future growth would be and how much wealth you'll gain by owning piece of them.  
     Most times you end up losing money! Esops are taxed highly. Esops cannot be sold anytime, it can be only when such events occur. There are so many conditions around it even during selling like the exercise period being low etc, and you have to stay for 4 yrs to get the entire amount.

Consultant

https://ajuniorvc.com/startup-concepts/esop-concepts/

Product Designer

How would you explain ESOPs in layman's term ? (consider ESOPs for gameskraft)

Welcome to Personal Finance's Private Community

What are ESOPs?

Frontend Engineer

What are ESOPs?- Grapevine

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

I am getting offered a 10L Esops for example, does that  simply mean i need to pay some amount  to get shares worth 10L of company at Actual Market Price?

I have got only RSUs until now so now idea how world of esops work and are they actual money?

Like If i’m at 40 CTC fixed and getting offer 48 fixed + 8L esops, am i getting 20% increment or 40% increment?

Explain Me like I’m 5 : What are ESOPs?

Let's assume youre stepping into your 5th grade. Parents tell you that they have 10 chocolates in the fridge and if you complete all the homework, pass exams with distinction and make them proud, they will give 10 chocolates and also extra.  
  
 So you work your ass off and kill your homework and exams. 
  
 If you have good parents, they will give you 2 chocolates per milestone [ESOPs buyback].  
  
 If you have good and rich parents, they will do as promised [company going IPO]. 
  
 Very common scenario - If you have bad parents, they will continue promising the existence of chocolates to motivate you but in reality there are no chocolates [company not doing buyback nor going IPO. ESOPs are just paper money with no value].

Software Engineer

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

Hello guys,
I would want to know what is the benefit of getting ESOPs in an early stage startup?
The startup has a great team and working on a promising product. 
I have been offered a package with somewhat lower fixed component and somewhat higher ESOPs. Need insightful pointers here. TIA :)

Value of ESOPs in early stage startups?

The ESOP is a bit of a blind bet.  
  
 It's paper money that can get you a windfall if all goes to plan and execution, solution, pricing, market readiness amongst other things, all line up over the next few years.  
  
 I wouldn't take a pay cut in lieu of ESOPs.  Keep the real money real and the paper money as an outside bet.

Sales Manager

So i got the ESOPs in my current company and now they want me to exercise it as it is mandatory to exercise the ESOP in a certain period of time. What will happen once I exercise it?? Also i am thinking of quitting the company so what will happen to the exercised ESOP if I leave the company??

Please give any resources to understand the complete what, how and when of the ESOPs and general summary regarding it

Can anyone please explain to me the ESOP thing??

Welcome to Business Roles's Private Community

ESOPs is offered by an early age startup. What are the things I does be aware about? or ask the founders to clarify with me.

Human Resources

Any Grapeviners here who got significantly rich through ESOPs? Can you share your story?

Trying to understand ESOPs

Data Analyst

Hi Folks,

I wanted to understand few things related to ESOPS for unlisted companies.

Let's say, A company(startup) is offering me a package of 20LPA as fixed component and 4L worth of ESOPS(25% vesting) each year.

Consider the date of the above offer date as 1st April 2024 and share value is Rs100/- (1st April 2024) as per the company so ideally 4000 shares


Since 20LPA is fixed component, I'll get the salary after tax calculation - all good here.


On 1st April 2025 , what happens ?

Assumption that share price is constant for one year and has not changed for better understanding.

Ideally I get 1000 shares at discounted price?
In general , how much discount is offered.


 If I have to buy at a discounted price, is it really beneficial from financial standpoint?

If I'm buying the shares even at a discounted price, why is it a part of CTC since I would be paying it from my pocket?


Requesting folks to help me with the clarification as this will help me in negotiations with future employment

ESOPS

Software Developer

I have recently left Tekion and was considering executing my ESOPs. For executing my ESOPs I need to pay around $3.5 per esop to the company. Should I convert my esops to equity? Am looking for some advice from the folks who might have done this in the past.

Tekion ESOPs Execution

Hey 👋  
  
 I have worked with a lot of my clients who own ESOPs. 
  
 Some points to consider in your case: 
 1. Tekion is not a listed company. Finding a buyer for the shares will be difficult. Considering this, Are you comfortable holding the shares till IPO? 
  
 2. Tax: You will need to pay tax at the time of exercising ESOPs. Again, are you comfortable with paying tax upfront?  
  
 3. If you wish to sell shares through brokers, check if company has right of first refusal. This way, you can a good deal and sell the shares to company (prior to IPO).

Welcome to News Discussion's Private Community

Any news on who is getting it, what's like an average payout for eligible employees? As per the news article, approx 19000 employees are getting it. Anyone has insider info?

Flipkart ESOP payout worth $700M

Founder

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

What's the value of your ESOPs when allotted to you and their worth now? Or they just melted like soap?

ESOPs or SOAPs??

Business Analyst

Started working in 2017 (Graduation: Tier 2 College)  in hand salary: 28K per Month. Worked for 2.5yrs, had big dreams, didn’t knew what to do, how do I 10x my salary, saw my manager 40yrs old earning 25LPA in the same company. Realised I don’t want to do this for the next 20yrs and the reach at 25LPA. Started preparing for UPSC (wanted to make it big) realised within 6 months, this is not my cup of tea, appeared for MBA entrance, cleared the exam joined Tier 1 MBA, post MBA: 25LPA + XX Esops in next two years at 1.2Cr CTC inc ESOPs. 

Before 2030 plan to achieve FIRE with 8Cr networth. By 2040 make it 100Cr and retire. Chill at beach with beer in hand and two other friends. 

What’s your story, do share those goldmine inspirational stories!!

Story of Middle Class guy from 3.5LPA CTC to 1.2Cr CTC (46Base + 72Esops) in 4 yrs

Are you considering 72L esops of razorpay as your own networth? 🤔🤔

Senior Product Manager

I am in discussion with some very early stage startup and if things work out then will be part of the founding team. They have promised to give me same salary as the current company’s salary but give ESOP. Is ESOP worth it if you are founding team member?

The founder has sold his previous company so higher chance of success it looks to me.

Is there any case where person made huge money on ESOP?

Are ESOP worth it? Did it make anyone billionaire?

Engineering Manager

Hi folks, 

I'm Kashish, the CEO of EquityList and Founder of Cloud Capital which I run as a solo GP.
A little bit about what we do: 

EquityList is a full-stack equity management platform by AngelList India. Companies across India, US and Singapore use EquityList to manage their cap table, stock options (ESOP/SAR), shareholders, and related compliances. Managing equity for 10k+ stakeholders, 250+ companies and ~$1B in stock options.

Cloud Capital has deployed $8M+ in 55+ startups such as Airmeet, Rupifi, Orange Health, DevRev, ZET (OneCode) and others. I've also angel invested in startups such as OSlash, Atlys, Chronicle, Even Healthcare and others.

Excited to do this AMA, and look forward to answering any of your questions about ESOPs, cap table management, investing, entrepreneurship, and more!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashisharma

Live AMA: Hey everyone, I'm Kashish, CEO of EquityList. Ask me anything!

I have 6 years experience. My current base/fixed is 60 LPA. (I also got a 5 lakh bonus and 5 lakh of my ESOPs vested this year making my total vested about 30 lakh. So the total comp is 70). 

I'm being offered a senior engineer position in an early stage startup (as part of the founding engineer team). They haven't given an offer yet.

Being early stage, the emphasis will most likely be on ESOPs. How do I evaluate this and set my expectations? (If I were to switch to a mature company, I believe the hikes usually are between 15-20%? How does this work for early stage startups?)

Salary expectation at early stage startup

I am at a VC backed early stage startup. Have been offered Esops.l but have no clue on this.  Can somebody explain to me how can I make money from ESOP by answering these-

1) Do I have to buy them post vesting period? If yes, what amount do I need to pay? Also will there be text on this purchase itself?

2)) When the company buys back from me assuming my vesting was over and I could hold them on, what's the amount I will get? I am assuming it's (no of options * current share price) - (no of options * strike price issued to me). Is that correct? If yes, how is the current share price calculated for non listed company?

3) Now when the company buys these, what's the tax I have to pay? I am trying to understand if availing options and selling options are different and if both have taxes

4) What happens in IPO? Who buys from me? Where can I sell? What price do I sell at?

What are ESOPs?

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