FAQ

What equity instrument should I ask for if the company’s 409A shows a $12.00 FMV?
Ask for RSUs or NSOs; ISOs are only viable when the strike equals or exceeds FMV. The committee at Stripe rejected a $9.00 ISO strike because it violated the ISO rule.

How do I calculate the cash‑equivalent value of a 0.05 % grant?
Multiply the percentage by the post‑money valuation (e.g., 0.05 % of a $4.5 B valuation equals $225 k), then apply a tax multiplier of 1.35 for ordinary‑income tax.

Can I negotiate a higher grant after a weak product interview?
Yes, if you can demonstrate domain credibility. Raj Singh at Robinhood increased the grant after the candidate linked latency improvements to $5 M ARR growth. The key is tying equity to measurable impact, not to interview performance alone.amazon.com/dp/B0GWWJQ2S3).