Ask HN: Job offer only lists shares that I'd receive, how much are they worth?

#1

Post by 619Cloud » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 6:23 PM UTC

I just received a job offer for a senior engineering position at a fairly early (working on series B) startup. For the equity (stock) they only list the number of shares I will receive, the cliff, and vesting schedule.

How am I supposed to know the value of the shares? Should I ask them to disclose the total shares float, and what percentage of the total shares my equity is?

Re: Ask HN: Job offer only lists shares that I'd receive, how much are they worth?

#2

Post by gj352 » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 6:25 PM UTC

You'll want to know percentage of company, and if they've got a valuation of the company already what that value is. Unlikely if they're "fairly early" that they know their valuation, so ask them for their projected valuation at the key stages. If they're offering equity, that's lovely. But that means that they have to pull back the curtain a little bit so you know what it all means.

Re: Ask HN: Job offer only lists shares that I'd receive, how much are they worth?

#3

Post by philipov » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

The value of being payed in shares by an early startup is calculated by dividing the number of shares by itself, and subtracting 1.

Re: Ask HN: Job offer only lists shares that I'd receive, how much are they worth?

#4

Post by MichaelCrawford » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 8:10 PM UTC

Ask how many shares have been authorized. Thats determined bybthe board of directors.