It’s crazy how few people understand basic startup equity but are faced with major career decisions based on these concepts.

It’s even crazier how few companies are forthcoming with necessary details like latest valuation, shares outstanding, or fundraising plans (read ‘dilution’).
One of the most valuable topic areas I got comfortable with while at Uber were these concepts and I regularly have friends and colleagues asking me to simplify and clarify these topics.
The key: ASK MORE QUESTIONS... without clarity you’re forced to discount the valued equity. The less is shared, the less serious the company is taking their own equity, and likely so should you. Here are a few questions to start with.
Valuation questions:

• What is the latest valuation of the company?
• When was the valuation set?
• How was the valuation set?
Equity types & value questions:

• How many shares outstanding?
• How will i receive equity? options? RSUs?
• What is the vesting schedule?
• Paid over 4 years w 1 year cliff is normal
Ask about who gets equity:

• Is there a standard equity program?
• Do all employees get equity?
• Do leaders / executives receive the same form of equity as me?
Ask about Investors, expectations, and outcomes:

• What is the fundraising plan?
• What is the plan/expectations for an exit?
• What is a reasonable valuation at the time of an exit?
It’s not exhaustive but it will get you started. The right mentality in these convos:

• I want equity because I believe in the company long-term
• I want to be aligned with the leaders/founders
• The more information I have the better decision I can make for my family
If you’re early in your career, find a place where you can be and operate as an owner. Optimizing for learning, speed, ownership, and great people to learn from is paramount. For more on equity >> https://t.co/V461HQbAkz

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The first ever world map was sketched thousands of years ago by Indian saint
“Ramanujacharya” who simply translated the following verse from Mahabharat and gave the world its real face

In Mahabharat,it is described how 'Maharishi Ved Vyasa' gave away his divine vision to Sanjay


Dhritarashtra's charioteer so that he could describe him the events of the upcoming war.

But, even before questions of war could begin, Dhritarashtra asked him to describe how the world looks like from space.

This is how he described the face of the world:

सुदर्शनं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वीपं तु कुरुनन्दन। परिमण्डलो महाराज द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः॥
यथा हि पुरुषः पश्येदादर्शे मुखमात्मनः। एवं सुदर्शनद्वीपो दृश्यते चन्द्रमण्डले॥ द्विरंशे पिप्पलस्तत्र द्विरंशे च शशो महान्।

—वेद व्यास, भीष्म पर्व, महाभारत


Meaning:-

हे कुरुनन्दन ! सुदर्शन नामक यह द्वीप चक्र की भाँति गोलाकार स्थित है, जैसे पुरुष दर्पण में अपना मुख देखता है, उसी प्रकार यह द्वीप चन्द्रमण्डल में दिखायी देता है। इसके दो अंशो मे पीपल और दो अंशो मे विशाल शश (खरगोश) दिखायी देता है।


Meaning: "Just like a man sees his face in the mirror, so does the Earth appears in the Universe. In the first part you see leaves of the Peepal Tree, and in the next part you see a Rabbit."

Based on this shloka, Saint Ramanujacharya sketched out the map, but the world laughed