[Lindathefounder]

Thanks for your answer! You hit the spot with some things. I am definitely emotionally involved with the company and considered the option of exercising only some of the options - that might be the best option at the moment. One thing to point out is that there is still a month worth of raising time (with all employees still in the company), which is significant in startup terms.

[fatnoah]

Even if the company did sell, it could be at a fire sale price and you could be inline to get paid after investors, founders, etc. IIRC, the term is Liquidation Preference. I held options for about 0.5% of my company when it was sold. They were worth $0 due to such preferences.

[everdev]

> I am definitely emotionally involved with the company

If you can find objective metrics that justify investing, great. But if the majority of your decision is emotional it's probably not a great choice.

I would look at what they're doing not what they're saying. They're playing up their opportunities, but firing everyone. The actions speak louder than their words.

Almost every startup has a great idea, a great product and a great team (and if they don't they will still sell you on the idea that they do have all these things).

What great startups have is all of those things plus great market fit plus great adoption plus great investors.

If it's all show it's a no go.

[benblu]

I would say "not really". Trying to raise with such terrible optics is not going to be a fast process.