List of startups: ESOPs that were actually liquidated or never liquidated

I work in a fintech company. Revenue and growth wise we are good, we just got acquired by a large internet platform too. Also, last year has been a tremendous learning for me as well. I like being PM but looking to move out of my current industry (lending) as I want to explore other domains and I feel like my CTC here is somewhat low (18.5 + 1.5 bonus) considering my experience (around 4.5 years). My boss said that I will get ESOPS (around 10 lacs) which I can liquidate around 50% this year. Should I wait for my appraisal to complete (will happen around April) and look to switch or should I start preparing for interviews now itself?

Hey everyone, excited to be doing this AMA! A brief about me, I work currently as a Director of Product at an Indian unicorn startup About my career: - Did my undergrad from IIT and then masters from an Ivy league school - Have been in product for almost 10 years now - across 2 Indian unicorn startups and a publicly listed company Would love to take questions on what it means to be a PM, growing within the role, building your career, and other things :) Will be back here at 4 pm and start replying Shoot away!

Hi, I have an ESOPs related question. Appreciate any inputs. Consider a Series B startup providing an employee with 5000 shares. After 2 years, 2000 shares are vested and exercised by the employee. The stocks were never liquidated because the company didn't conduct buyback nor went IPO. Now, assume the company lays off that employee after 2 years, - Can he still hold the vested and exercised 2000 shares? - If yes, then can he sell those stocks during future buyback even if he isn't an employee? - Will the company provide accelerated vesting for the remaining 3000 shares during layoff? (not mentioned on offer letter)

At an early stage startup that is VC funded. Had posted a question on understanding esops which provided great clarity. Now curious as to how much people actually have ended up making from ESOP buybacks. Would be great if you can share- initial exercise price, quantum of esops and final price at which you sold. I currently have 25L in esops for a 2M$ funded company at a strike price of 10.

Please share how your company esop policy is. Is it really valuable for employees or just used to create hype and retail talent. How many years can you exercise them after resignation? How did the taxation go if someone has been lucky enough to convert it to cash? Should esops be a factor while leaving current company or joining a new company?

Ever heard about people getting payout for their vested ESOPs when they exit the firm? Does this really happen?

Hi GVers, For those who've seen their company IPO (Zomato, Nykaa, PayTM, Delhivery etc.) during their tenure, by how much did you ESOP value appreciate after the IPO? Also, how long before the IPO had you joined the company? For those who've seen buybacks and secondary sales in their company How much did your ESOP value appreciate during such events, if any? How long ago before the event had you joined the company? PS: I've heard ESOP value for some IPO borne companies appreciate by 2x after the IPO.

Fast learning and fast paced growth aside, after 15 years of MNC experience I joined a startup to get some ESOPs.. and hopefully a good buyback .. I have worked in 2 startups now.Both of these were already Unicorns when I joined . While I love the culture and dynamic pace of a startup i feel my chances of getting a payout are slim... My personal learning is to get a good reward you have to be in top 10 employees for sure ... otherwise it's not worth it .. There is no point joining a Unicorn in middle management...or second in command in any function... Happy to hear your thoughts !

Any story around why to hold ESOPs or why not to?

Guys, what are your successful ESOP stories? How much did you made? And what did you do with that money?