Concept

Founder vesting

Founder vesting means the company can repurchase unvested shares at cost until they vest. Four years monthly with a one-year cliff is the market default. It protects co-founders and later investors if someone leaves early — and it is what investors expect on the cap table.

Where founders get this wrong

  • Skipping vesting between co-founders 'because we trust each other' and then fighting over a departure.
  • Assuming acceleration, cliffs, and repurchase price are boilerplate you can ignore until counsel asks.
  • Leaving unvested stock undocumented while raising — investors will force the cleanup mid-process.
Related topic hubs
Leadership →Hiring →
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Founder-led salesRunway83(b) election
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