Non-Founder Crew

Alicia Thomas
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Non-Founder Crew is a show for employees navigating the unpredictable world of tech startups, from the moments of chaos and uncertainty to chasing impossible goals. In each episode, host Alicia Thomas shares the lessons she learned after spending over a decade working in startups and the unspoken rules of surviving ~ and thriving ~ in a startup. You’ll also hear stories from experts and other non-founder employees who built their careers in the trenches of the startup world. Subscribe to Non-Founder Crew so you never miss an episode.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    The 5 Questions a Startup Employee Should Ask After Funding Rounds with Alicia Thomas

    If you've spent any time working at startups, you've likely sat through a fundraising announcement. There is usually a big number on a slide, a celebratory message from leadership, and plenty of excitement about what comes next. What rarely gets discussed is what that funding round actually means for the employees who own a piece of the business. Funding announcements are written for investors, future hires, and the press. They are designed to tell a story about where the company is going, not necessarily to explain what happened to your equity, your ownership percentage, or your place in line if the company is ever sold or goes public. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five questions every non-founder employee at startups should ask after their company announces a funding round. I break down how to understand valuation changes, dilution, 409(a) valuations, liquidation preferences, and runway without needing a finance degree.  I also share how to spot the signals that leadership may be entering a new chapter of growth, shifting toward efficiency, or quietly preparing for organizational changes. We'll explore why understanding your fully diluted ownership percentage matters, how option pool refreshes silently impact your equity, and what terms like "strategic round," "extension round," and "participating preferred" can reveal about the health of a fundraising announcement. We also discuss hiring plans, compensation conversations, and the subtle signs that can indicate restructures are coming long before they are publicly announced. Because if you have equity in a startup, you're not just an employee; you're an owner, and understanding what happens after a funding round is part of understanding what you actually own. Chapters:  [00:00] Intro[00:38] Why Funding Announcements Are Marketing, Not Truth[03:29] Question 1: Decoding Valuation Changes and 409(a) Pricing[07:25] Question 2: Understanding Dilution and the Option Pool Refresh[09:25] Question 3: Reading the Preference Stack and Liquidation Preferences[10:56] Question 4: Calculating Real Runway and Burn Rate Changes[13:39] Question 5: Hiring Plans, Compensation, and Restructuring Signals[16:02] Key Takeaways: You're an Owner, Act Like One Resources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/   A Guide to Getting Ahead at Tech Startups Link Non-Founder Crew on Apple PodcastsNon-Founder Crew on SpotifyNon-Founder Crew on YouTube

  2. Jul 21

    How Startup Employees Can Negotiate a Job Offer: Jennifer Paxton on Getting Paid What You're Worth

    Negotiating a job offer at a startup is more than just asking for a higher salary. The way you structure and approach the conversation shapes how a company sees you, and it influences the perceived value that you bring to the table and how well you would align with the existing team. It can even determine whether the offer stays on the table. In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Paxton, VP of People and Talent at Roofr and former recruiting and people leader at LevelUp, Privy, and Smile. Based on her experience of having led hundreds of offer conversations at startups, Jennifer shares what really happens behind the scenes once a candidate starts negotiating. She explains how recruiters, hiring managers, HR, and finance work together to evaluate requests, why internal pay equity matters more than most candidates realize, and how to advocate for yourself without coming across as difficult. We explore practical negotiation strategies that look beyond just the base salary, including how and when to ask for a sign-on bonus, how to approach discussing salary ranges, and why pairing a specific request with a clear commitment can lead to better outcomes.  Jennifer also shares why silence is one of the strongest negotiation skills candidates can develop. Being comfortable in the silence between you making your case and the recruiter responding projects your confidence and strength.  She also shares why preparation for the interview builds confidence, and the common mistakes that cause otherwise strong candidates to lose leverage. Finally, we discuss whether accepting a counteroffer from your current employer is the right move, how to build productive relationships with recruiters, and why internal referrals can dramatically improve your chances of landing an interview.  Chapters:  [00:00] Intro[01:29] Treat Offer Negotiations With Professional Thoughtfulness[05:21] What Happens Behind the Scenes During Negotiations[06:58] Negotiate Beyond Base Salary: Bonuses, Stipends, and PTO[08:25] Use Urgency and Specificity for Sign-On Bonuses[10:08] Navigating Pay Transparency and Salary Ranges[14:22] Reference Concrete Impact Instead of Generic Self-Valuation[15:47] Write Down and Role-Play Your Negotiation Conversation[19:17] When and How to Follow Up After Interviews[21:20] Network Directly With Employees to Bypass Application Bottlenecks[22:58] Common Negotiation Mistakes and Horror Stories[25:33] Take Ownership of Salary Alignment in Your First Call[27:00] When Candidates Undersell Themselves[29:25] How to Address Pay Discrepancies With Your Manager[31:53] Key Takeaways and Final Wisdom Resources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/    Non-Founder Crew on Apple PodcastsNon-Founder Crew on SpotifyNon-Founder Crew on YouTube

  3. Jul 7

    Building a Startup From Zero: Nicole Zartarian on Being Employee One and Owning Growth

    Building a startup from the earliest stages (think employee #1 and up) requires a specific mindset and approach to work. Often, there’s a lack of processes to guide you, a lack of clarity on roles, and minimal teammates to rely on and fall back on. The only given is a relentless pursuit of growth.  Early employees have to learn how to create processes, identify business opportunities, and take ownership of problems before they are assigned, while also learning to advocate for fair compensation and equity for themselves. In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Zartarian, who has been an early-stage product leader and employee #1 at a healthcare startup. Nicole shares all that she learned while helping build a company from the earliest days into a flourishing business with a growing team. Nicole shares how she developed the ability to operate without a roadmap, learned the ropes from technical teams thanks to her innate curiosity, and turned uncertainty into an opportunity to build new skills. We’ll explore how early employees can grow by becoming self-directed, why documenting your work is essential when moving into higher-impact roles, and how letting go of ownership can create space for tackling bigger challenges.  We also discuss how parenthood changed Nicole’s approach to prioritization and boundaries, and why early employees have a unique opportunity to influence company culture, policies, and the way teams work together. Highlights: [00:00] Intro[01:14] Starting as Employee #1 with No Office and Vague Job Title[02:28] Self-Direction: Figuring Out What to Do When No One Tells You[04:00] Negotiating Equity Early with Help from a Trusted Mentor[07:13] Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Patient Teachers[10:47] Building Like Legos: The Joy of Creating from Scratch[11:06] Giving Away Your Legos: Delegating Without Losing Your Mind[14:13] Staying Adaptable Through Constant Change and New Hires[16:38] Balancing Parenthood with Startup Ambition[23:11] Creating Family-Friendly Policies That Benefit Everyone[25:31] Scripting Compensation Talks and Asking for More[27:23] Finding Your Fairy Godmother Mentor[28:09] Advice to Your Younger Self: Push Through Fear and Stay BoldResources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/    Non-Founder Crew on Apple PodcastsNon-Founder Crew on SpotifyNon-Founder Crew on YouTube

  4. Jun 23

    The Truth About Startup Equity in 2026: Insights From Carta’s Data

    Startup employees hear a lot about equity, but most of the conversation is based on anecdotal data from assumptions, headlines, or individual experiences. To really understand what’s happening in the market, you need hard data to back up the trends. In this episode, I sit down with Hamza Shad, Insights Manager at Carta, to unpack what Carta’s startup compensation data reveals about the current state of employee equity. With insights covering tens of thousands of private companies and around one million startup employees, Hamza brings a unique view into how compensation is changing across the startup ecosystem. We’ll explore the biggest shifts in startup equity, including why employee equity grants have been increasing, how smaller startup teams are changing the value equation, and why AI companies are reshaping compensation trends. We’ll also dig into what the data says about who is seeing the biggest changes in equity grants and how non-founder employees should think about their ownership. Finally, we’ll break down the biggest misconceptions around startup equity, what employees should understand when evaluating offers, and the market trends that could shape startup hiring and compensation in 2026. Highlights: (00:00) Intro(01:11) Understanding Carta's Startup Compensation Data(03:12) Benchmark Your Startup Compensation Against Market Data(04:54) Why Startup Layoff Narratives Differ from Big Tech Reality(05:16) Smaller Teams, Higher Valuations, Better Equity Math(06:20) Employee Equity Up 13%, Executive Equity Only 1.2%(07:27) Stop Assigning Dollar Values to Early-Stage Equity(08:37) The AI Premium: Valuation Growth Over Dilution(09:59) AI Engineer Compensation Surge and Market Scarcity(11:30) Understanding Option Pools and Series C Equity Grants(12:58) Hiring Trends and IPO Liquidity as Market Indicators(13:14) The Evolution of Job Titles in 2026(15:19) Carta's Interactive Data Tools Coming Soon(15:59) Where to Find Carta's Reports and Stay Connected(17:00) Key Takeaways for Startup Employees in 2026Resources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/    Non-Founder Crew on Apple PodcastsNon- Founder Crew on SpotifyNon-Founder Crew on YouTubeHere’s the link to download the full Carta State of Compensation Report: https://carta.com/data/startup-compensation-h2-2025/

  5. Jun 9

    Must-Ask Questions When Joining a Startup in 2026

    If you want more like this, I share deeper breakdowns on my Substack. In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, I’m breaking down one of the most overlooked skills in startup careers: how to properly evaluate a startup before you join it. Most candidates spend interviews answering questions while barely asking any of their own. But joining a startup is an investment of your time, energy, and often your financial future. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the exact questions I believe every startup candidate should ask before accepting an offer. We’ll cover the core business metrics that actually matter, including ARR, burn rate, runway, churn, CAC, and customer retention, along with what good answers and major red flags sound like in practice. I also explain why evaluating AI startups requires a completely different lens than traditional SaaS companies. We’ll unpack concepts like inference costs, AI retention challenges, and what creates a real moat in an increasingly commoditized market. Finally, I break down the equity questions most people forget to ask until it’s too late, helping you better understand what your offer is actually worth before you sign. Highlights:(00:00) Why startup interviews are the wrong way around(01:10) Joining a startup is an investment, not just a job(02:10) Why evaluating AI startups requires a new playbook(03:10) Why most candidates avoid asking hard questions(04:10) My experience joining the wrong startup(05:00) Why founders should welcome tough questions(05:40) When and how to ask these questions in interviews(06:20) Question #1: ARR and growth targets(06:55) Question #2: Year-over-year growth trajectory(07:25) Question #3: Burn rate, runway, and cash in the bank(08:20) Question #4: Churn, ACV, and CAC(08:50) Question #5: Why customers churn(09:20) Question #6: The company’s biggest challenge(09:50) Why traditional SaaS metrics fail for AI companies(11:00) AI Question #1: Gross margins and inference costs(12:30) AI Question #2: Gross retention and the “AI tourist effect.”(13:45) AI Question #3: Moats and model commoditization(14:45) Understanding startup equity and compensation(15:20) Equity basics: Strike price and fair market value(15:40) How to evaluate stock options and ownership percentage(16:00) ISOs vs NSOs, vesting, and acceleration clauses(16:15) The question that reveals how founders think about equity(16:40) Why AI startup valuations can make equity risky(17:05) How founders respond to your questions matters most(18:10) Final thoughts and newsletter signupResources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/    Non-Founder Crew on Apple PodcastsNon- Founder Crew on SpotifyNon-Founder Crew on YouTubeSteal Our Free Interview Question Sheet. Download our Non-Founder Crew sheet for quick access to every question from this episode: From SaaS, AI, to equity and more. https://bit.ly/3PNCfyk

  6. May 19

    How to Grow Alongside Your Startup: Chathri Ali on Going From Employee #10 to COO

    In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, we’re diving into the real side of building a career in a startup. It’s all about navigating uncertainty, saying yes even when you don’t have the answers, and constantly figuring out the next step in the process. Chathri Ali, CEO and Co-Founder of Accel Health, has done all of this and more. Formerly from Recharge Payments and Klaviyo, Chathri shares her experience through several startups & stages. And now that she’s a founder herself, we’ll hear the key lessons that helped her take risks and welcome new challenges. If you’re someone trying to figure out how to grow with a startup, build your own role, or know when it’s time to move on, this episode is packed with the information you need. We talk about the tension of being an early employee, how to make yourself indispensable, and how to navigate relationships with founders as your role and career evolve. If you’re ready to be an indispensable and go-getting team member, this episode will give you the mindset and tips to make it happen. Highlights:(00:00) How Chathri’s journey with Recharge began(02:00) Saying yes before you know how: Chathri’s first big leap(03:45) From marketing to COO: How Chathri grew with Recharge(05:00) Navigating uncertainty and trusting yourself in a startup(07:00) What it’s like to work at a bootstrapped startup(09:15) Making smart bets and handling resource constraints(11:00) How funding changed everything for Recharge(12:30) The tension between early-stage employees and founders(14:00) What Chathri learned about working with challenging leaders(16:00) When is it time to leave? Chathri’s decision to move on(18:00) How becoming a founder changed Chathri’s perspective(20:00) Key advice for early employees looking to scale with a startupResources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomasNon-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/

  7. May 5

    How to Create Your Own Role at a Startup

    In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, we’re diving into something that can completely change the trajectory of your career at a startup, and that’s creating your own role.  If you’ve ever felt stuck in your job, waiting for the “right” opportunity or wondering how people land those seemingly custom-fit roles, this episode is for you. My guest, Sam Melnick, the Vice President of Marketing at Postscript, is back to break down exactly how he’s created roles for himself more than once and how you can do the same. From pitching your own job description to navigating internal politics and proving your value early, Sam and I unpack what it actually takes to carve out a role that aligns with your skills and ambitions. We also talk about why startups reward action over permission and how understanding that can unlock opportunities much faster than you think. If you want to stop waiting for a promotion and start building a role that actually excites you, this episode will give you the mindset, strategies, and real-world examples to make it happen. Highlights:(00:12) Why creating your own role is a hidden advantage in startups(01:45) Sam’s first experience pitching a role that did not exist(02:54) Why focusing on what excites you matters more than title or pay(03:30) How to pitch your own role with a real business case(04:10) The internal reactions and politics of creating something new(05:35) Building momentum early and proving value in week one(06:20) Why startups reward people who take action without permission(07:13) The risk of pointing out problems and owning them(08:14) Why your idea needs business context, not just creativity(09:43) Alicia’s story of moving from admin to marketing(11:57) The tradeoffs of niche titles versus broader roles early on(14:18) How roles evolve by taking on more responsibility over time(16:22) What Sam wishes he had done earlier in his careerResources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomasNon-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/

  8. Apr 21

    The Unwritten Rules of Titles, Leveling, and Getting What You Actually Want

    If you want more like this, I share deeper breakdowns on my Substack. In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, we're diving into something nobody ever tells you when you join a startup: the unwritten rules of titles. If you’ve felt stuck in your career, unsure of how decisions around titles get made at the leadership level, then this episode is for you. My guest, Sam Melnick, the Vice President of Marketing at Postscript, is here to share his stories & experiences with navigating job titles and career growth in startups to help you break free from this common frustration. From founder alignment to understanding your own career goals, Sam and I unpack the challenges of advancing in a startup, especially when titles and promotions seem elusive. He’ll talk through why titles are often more about timing and company size. And why understanding the unwritten rules is the key to understanding the dynamics happening inside your organization. If you want to understand how decisions often get made regarding titles, promotions, and compensation changes, this is a great episode to give you context at the leadership level from someone who's been on the other side of the table as a manager and leader.  Highlights: (00:00) Introduction to the episode and why titles matter at startups(01:00) Introducing Sam Melnick, his background and career journey(03:00) The unwritten rules of startup organizations: reading the room(04:35) Why being clear on what you want is critical as a non-founder(06:00) How founder alignment shapes your career opportunities(07:30) The pitfalls of leveling too early, how titles can box everyone in(09:00) Understanding the "why" behind chasing a title(11:00) Why the Senior Manager to Director transition is a common pain point(13:00) Titles vs. comp vs. equity: how to stack rank your priorities(15:00) Creating your own role at a startup and the ego hits that come with it(16:30) Why "titles don't matter" is easy to say once you've already made it(18:00) How Sam navigates title conversations with his own team(20:00) Does the company actually need that senior role? Thinking like a manager(22:00) Putting yourself in your manager's shoes, the layers behind every promotion decision(25:00) Navigating layoffs, AI disruption, and knowing your market value(29:00) Negotiating for coaching and other non-title career resources(31:00) Survive and Thrive Toolkit: keeping your equity platform info up to dateResources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomasNon-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/

  9. Apr 7

    How to Build a Network That Works for You in Tech Startups

    If you want more like this, I share deeper breakdowns on my Substack. In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, I’m breaking down a skill that’s crucial to your success in the tech startup world…networking.  If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of networking or thought it was just for extroverts, this episode is for you. I’ll share practical strategies that you can easily incorporate into your day-to-day routine, whether you’re just starting or looking to improve your existing network.  From optimizing your LinkedIn profile to finding natural moments to connect with others, I’ll show you how to make networking feel much more approachable and less overwhelming. I’ll also walk you through my own experiences, from my cringeworthy early attempts to how I turned networking into a powerful tool that brings opportunities to me. Networking doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It’s all about small, consistent actions that compound over time. If you’re ready to take the stress out of networking and start building connections that actually help your career, this episode will give you the practical tips and mindset shifts you need to get started. Highlights:(00:00) Why networking feels so uncomfortable(01:30) The mindset shift that changed everything(03:00) Easy ways to build connections in everyday work(05:00) How to use career transitions to strengthen relationships(06:30) Why recruiters are your biggest opportunity(08:00) What to say when a recruiter reaches out(09:00) The 10 minute daily networking habit(10:00) Why a broad network beats a small one Survive & Thrive Toolkit:  Taking the Work Out of Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Work-Out-Networking-Connections/dp/1501199277The Never Search Alone Method: https://www.neversearchalone.org/Resources: Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomasNon-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/

  10. Mar 24

    Welcome to Non-Founder Crew: A guide to getting ahead in tech startups

    Hi, I’m Alicia Thomas, and I’ve spent over a decade working in tech startups of all shapes and sizes. My journey includes everything from working in a small team of five people, all the way to being an early employee at a company that has gone on to IPO.  After years of working in the trenches, trying to figure out how it all worked, I looked back at my experiences, and thought, “there’s gotta be an easier way for folks to navigate the world of working at a startup.”  But all of the content out there was mainly tailored for founders.  If you work at a startup but aren't a founder, this podcast is for you. The startup world can be challenging, and it’s not always easy to figure out how things work when you haven’t been through it before. You’ve probably faced moments where you felt like there was no guide for the things you’re dealing with like the unwritten rules and the stuff everyone else seems to know but you. Well, you’re not alone ✨ In this podcast, I’ll share what I’ve learned along the way, from the things nobody talks about to the challenges that often get ignored. It’s about  Whether you’re new to startups or you've been around for a while, I hope this space feels like one where you can relate, learn, and know you're not alone in this journey. Highlights: (00:00) Meet Alicia Thomas (00:32) Alicia’s journey through various tech startups (02:38) Everyone is going through the same things (04:17) Struggling with burnout (05:47) Providing a resource for non-founders Resources: Newsletter: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/subscribe?params=%5Bobject%20Object%5D Alicia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/

  11. Mar 5

    Introducing the Non-Founder Crew Podcast

    Working in a tech startup can be a crazy ride. And if you feel like you’re regularly scratching your head wondering, “what does that mean?”, you’re not alone. Non-Founder Crew is a show for employees navigating the unpredictable world of tech startups, from the moments of chaos and uncertainty to chasing impossible goals. In each episode, host Alicia Thomas shares the lessons she learned after spending over a decade working in startups and the unspoken rules of surviving ~ and thriving ~ in a startup. You’ll also hear stories from experts and other non-founder employees who built their careers in the trenches of the startup world. Subscribe to Non-Founder Crew so you never miss an episode.

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Non-Founder Crew is a show for employees navigating the unpredictable world of tech startups, from the moments of chaos and uncertainty to chasing impossible goals. In each episode, host Alicia Thomas shares the lessons she learned after spending over a decade working in startups and the unspoken rules of surviving ~ and thriving ~ in a startup. You’ll also hear stories from experts and other non-founder employees who built their careers in the trenches of the startup world. Subscribe to Non-Founder Crew so you never miss an episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Alicia Thomas
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alicia Thomas
  • Show Website
    Non-Founder Crew