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therobots927HNSource author
Lessons learnedExperience excerpt · English

I worked for a startup where I repeatedly asked basic questions to estimate the value of my shares

I worked for a startup where I repeatedly asked basic questions to estimate the value of my shares. I never got a straight answer. So I applied to a FAANG and got in. When I was onboarding the FAANG asked what my shares I was leaving behind were worth (they take this number and use it to calculate starting bonus). I had no idea, gave an honest estimate, and later found out that I had given them a number about 60% lower than the true value. I'll never forgive the startup execs for keeping me in the dark, or ever work for a company again that doesn't make that information freely available. One of my favorite memories was walking out the door of that place.

Original discussionCarta to exit secondary trading business114 source comments · at import
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choppafaceHN

I'm a former employee of a place that did Carta. Employees are already left in the dark about the cap table, liquidity preferences, venture debt, and the C-Suite's relationship with the Board. Based on this exchange, I'd now see usage of Carta as a red flag when looking at any new start-up. Maybe Schwab or Shareworks are ok (Shareworks has been fine in my own experience). The investors are already doing hyper-leveraged arbitrage with my labor, I don't need the HR Comp software to do that too (even if they say they don't, and even if they say that business is only worth $3m/yr vs $250m/yr for accounting). If they want to do that, they can pay me directly.

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fatnoahHN

I flat out never trust any numbers from startups. Some companies are still using the SaaS 10-13x revenue as an estimation, despite the current economic climate and often in spite of a) not reqlly being a SaaS and b) not growing that fast. Throw in liquidation preferences, etc. and it's not really possible to know anyway. I've been at three startups. Two were acquired and one is still plateaued over 10 years after I left. Total value of my stock so far? $0. It'd have to be some rare unicorn for me to treat startup options as anything other than a lottery ticket.

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jeyHN

> asked what my shares I was leaving behind were worth I always decline to answer these questions by saying "it's not relevant; I'd like to be compensated according to my background/experience and the role". If there's a specific number I'm looking for, I'll also ask for that. But I'd never directly answer the "what was your last salary/comp?" question.

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choppafaceHN

I’ve had two offers where only the number of shares was quoted, one of them from a YC alum. One now has a record of making false statements about their valuation and has gone under, the other got sold for pennies. If they only give you number of shares it’s a big red flag and could be outright fraud.

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