3 Costly Mistakes When Giving Equity As A First Time Founder

In this episode of Startup Leap, hosts Yvonne and Maria dive deep into critical considerations for startup founders focusing on equity allocation and cap table management.

The episode covers insights on how to strategically allocate early equity with co-founders, advisors, and employees, including tips on vesting schedules and cliffs.

They share expert advice on raising the right amount of capital at the appropriate time and negotiating beyond just valuation. Featuring the real-life dilemma of a founder dealing with an unequal equity split, the hosts offer practical solutions and emphasize the importance of having clear agreements and structured equity plans.

Listen to understand different strategies used by successful founders, backed by examples from industry giants like Mark Zuckerberg.

00:00 Introduction to Equity Allocation

00:12 Understanding Company Valuation

00:24 Founder Dilemmas and Real-Life Examples

00:32 Critical Tips for Equity Allocation

01:45 Strategic Early Equity Decisions

04:55 Vesting Schedules and Cliffs Explained

06:54 Employee Share Option Pools (ESOP)

07:57 Listener's Co-Founder Dilemma

12:29 Raising the Right Amount at the Right Time

19:17 Negotiating Terms Beyond Valuation

25:19 Bonus Tip: Smart Equity Structuring

27:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Don’t miss this important conversation for any founder at the start of their startup equity journey.

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Youtube: https://youtu.be/QyrjUhJofpk

💡Resources mentioned on the episode:

Carta Article on CapTables:

https://carta.com/uk/en/learn/startups/equity-management/cap-table/#common-formats

Venture Deals Book:

https://amzn.eu/d/gGsNviP

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