Well that definitely wont ever happen, and Im pretty sure you know it isnt true. I assume you know from your UN, days (or even "months" -- doesnt matter) is an ambiguous metric.

days == months == launches == rounds in reality.

Unless you had the actual, initial idea, no future team (doesnt matter time) is going to be considered a cofounder. Meaningful equity and terms wont be given out after that standing.

Incoming employees need to realize that -- equity++ means nothing; most should request a reasonable salary.

> Unless you had the actual, initial idea, no future team (doesnt matter time) is going to be considered a cofounder. Meaningful equity and terms wont be given out after that standing.

I see your angle with this, but I've personally seen Co-Founder thrown about as a perk in exchange for lowered compensation when the company is still fresh enough. A person who could add value might be offered to come in as a VP with substantial comp and equity but trades a good chunk of that comp away to be called a Co-Founder instead.

It kindasorta betrays the idea of what a founder is, but somewhat like how time is meaningless by your example, so too can be titles.

> Incoming employees need to realize that -- equity++ means nothing; most should request a reasonable salary.

Yup. Unless you've worked for Palantir. Then your shares are worth their weight in magical fairy dust.

> Yup. Unless you've worked for Palantir. Then your shares are worth their weight in magical fairy dust.

So, a lot?

The statement was deliberately ambiguous. :)

I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but it is extremely common for cofounders to be added later on (after development has begun). Heck, I would say that all cofounders being involved from the very beginning is the exception, not the rule.

Sorry, I don't understand this comment at all.

I specified weeks or months later, after initial traction. Take Airbnb for example: their first hire wasn't for over a year, is he only worth about 1-3% of the company? Probably not, but he also probably doesn't care because that 1% is worth $250-300MM after taxes. Most 1st employees aren't that lucky, and would be putting in a similar amount of time and sacrifice for a much smaller payout.

If you join a year after the company starts, you're probably not a cofounder.

If you join pre-money you are a founder. If you join post-money you are an employee.