[majc2]

No, I don't think it can - you are being completely unrealistic about equity. The time for negotiating equity is before you incorporate or before you take funding; not 9 months down the line.

Frankly, if you pursue this equity issue - it is very unlikely to end well - you are likely going to destroy value in your business based on what? Some online calculator, put out as lead-gen?

I think you are confusing two issues - equity and leadership. Leadership is a perfectly reasonable conversation to be having; yesterdays CEO might not be the correct CEO today. This is probably 9 months too late, but maybe something like 'Founders Dilemmas' could help you.