Ask HN: Employees who exersised stock options: how did it go?

Re:Ask HN: Employees who exersised stock options: how did it... by lostdog on Monday December 21, 2020 @07:19PM (#25501435)

I don't mind working for less on something I'm passionate about. But, if we do get lucky and the startup goes to the moon, I expect to do well!

And that's why I can't work at startups anymore. It's fundamentally unfair that VC's capture all the upside. I'm can no longer bring myself to donate half my compensation as funding and only get the measliest of common stock options in return.

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Re:Ask HN: Employees who exersised stock options: how did it... by compsciphd on Tuesday December 22, 2020 @07:39AM (#25505671)

if the salary you are getting sufficient, then they are taking a lot more risk than you are. most startups fail, as long as you are getting paid an amount that is sufficient for goals and are working on what you want to work on, you are taking on minimal risk. And most startups that do well, the employees do also do well (not necessarily as well, but they also took on less risk).

A startup that sells for 250 million after raising 300 million, did not do well.

A startup that basically went bankrupt and had to be recapitalized after you left, did not do well.

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