I remember asking for a cap table at a startup and in not so few words, was told to fuck off.
At that point I realized it didn't matter how many options I had, I was going to get screwed should there be an exit, and made my own.
At that point I realized it didn't matter how many options I had, I was going to get screwed should there be an exit, and made my own.
I am not going to lock up a huge portion of my expendable compensation in an "investment" that's designed to benefit people besides me on the hopes that the company is one of the few successes to come to market. There are too many horror stories going on right now that the VCs are trying to keep quiet for me to trust most startups.
BTW, my CEO just gave me a significant bump in my options a few weeks ago. He acted like it was a huge deal. But, with the 'right of repurchase' and all the other BS clauses in my options contract, they're essentially worthless.
There's usually something missing from their combination of empathy and understanding which would allow them to care about the negative ramifications they're having. Look at Bill Gates, I don't think he's a bad person but he hurt a lot of people in industry and consumers to build Microsoft to what it is by destroying the competitive landscape. Steve Jobs is a better example, he proactively colluded to suppress wages and paid money for an organ that would only prolong his life but could have saved someone else's (seriously, I consider that an evil move).
One suggestion for you, it sounds like you're very angry about your current work environment. Maybe it's time to find a new place?
The chances of getting wealthy by joining a small startup are very small. It happens, but it's probably not going to happen for you.
If you really want to do well, you have to pull together the resources to start a successful company.
On a different note, I used to work for an almost billionaire, they were incredibly cheap. I often reminded myself that you don't make a billion dollars by wasting money!
I should go back to welding.
Note: I am poor.
The correct answers are: "We don't give you options, we give you RSUs and they start vesting after 90 days. Here's the cap table"
Anything else is screwing you. Unless, course the RSUs are for preferred shares, that's real what it should be, but common seems a reasonable compromise given that investors think a dollar from them is worth more than a dollar from an employee and should be preferred.