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Equity vesting is a way to gradually give employees ownership in a company over time. Here's how it typically works: 1. **Initial Vesting Schedule**: You're granted a certain number of shares or options, but they're not fully yours yet. You might have to wait 1-4 years for the vesting period to complete. 2. **Vesting Schedule**: The shares or options vest at regular intervals, such as quarterly or annually. For example, you might vest 25% of your shares after 1 year, 25% after 2 years, and so on. 3. **Cliff Period**: Some companies have a cliff period, where you must stay with the company for a certain amount of time (e.g., 1 year) before any vesting begins. 4. **Leaving the Company**: If you leave the company before the vesting period is complete, you might forfeit unvested shares or options. To understand your specific equity vesting situation, I recommend reviewing your employment contract or consulting with a licensed financial advisor or HR professional. You can do this by filling out the "Request a specialist" form on this page. Next step: Have you reviewed your employment contract or talked to your HR representative about your equity vesting schedule?
A fair equity split between cofounders depends on various factors, including their roles, responsibilities, and contributions to the company. Here are some general guidelines: 1. **Equal split**: 50/50 is a common starting point, especially if cofounders have equal roles and responsibilities. 2. **Role-based split**: Allocate equity based on the cofounder's role and responsibilities. For example, a CEO might receive 60%, while a CTO receives 20%. 3. **Contribution-based split**: Divide equity based on the cofounder's contributions, such as funding, expertise, or time invested. 4. **Vesting schedule**: Consider a vesting schedule to ensure cofounders remain committed to the company over time. It's essential to discuss and agree on the equity split with your cofounders. You may want to consult with a lawyer or a financial advisor to determine the best approach for your specific situation. What is your cofounder's role, and what are their contributions to the company?
A cap table, or capitalization table, is a document that outlines the ownership structure of a company. Here's a simplified breakdown of what to look for: 1. **Total Equity**: The total value of the company's outstanding shares. 2. **Pre-Money Equity**: The total equity value before any new investment. 3. **Post-Money Equity**: The total equity value after a new investment. 4. **New Investment**: The amount of money invested in the company. 5. **Valuation**: The company's valuation after the new investment. 6. **Ownership Breakdown**: A list of all shareholders, their ownership percentage, and the number of shares they hold. When reviewing a cap table, consider the following: * Who are the major shareholders? * What is the company's valuation? * What is the ownership structure? If you're unsure about interpreting a cap table or need specific guidance, consider **Requesting a specialist** who can help you understand the details. What specific aspect of the cap table would you like to understand better?
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