This is what I don't understand... Why can't developers get non-dilutable shares?
If someone helps you invent something, and they are willing to put their own skin in the game in exchange for an ownership stake, then shouldn't they become wealthy along with you if it is successful?
This whole notion that developers are expendable and disposable and that it is acceptable to give them dilutable stock options is fundamentally immoral and needs to go away.
It's nothing more than greed and exploitation.
When I said "100% non-dilutable share", that was unclear. I meant non-dilutable 100% share. As in, total ownership.
It's entirely possible to negotiate option excercise dates. Asking for 5-10 years to decide if you want to buy is within the realms of possibility for software engineers at early stage startups (pre b round).
Same with early excercise.
Sure. But since this is a negotiation, you probably have to make some choices. Should you press on exercise dates, or on number of shares? If both of these are worth zero in your calculus, you have no means to assess.
Sure, you can ask for a 100% non-dilutable share, but you're not going to get it. In order to negotiate meaningfully, you need to have a valuation of the things you're negotiating on, so you can decide what tradeoffs are good and which are bad.