[dgvkx19z7f80gqq]

None.

Eleven startups. Net value of options: zero.

Plenty of exits, but thanks to preferences overhangs, zero value for employee stock options. Yes, got decent salary, but not FAANG level.

VCs may be able to write off 1/3 of their investments, I can't. Stop conning employees into accepting lower salaries in return for stock options.

[davismwfl]

I'm curious, can you define what you viewed as a decent salary, either as a range or percentage of market?

[dgvkx19z7f80gqq]

For my region, $150-175k, engineering. Last startup I worked at (>1 year ago) paid $120 + roughly 30k in options (so, divided $30000 by strike price resulting in N options). Company exited for 5x venture funding. Options were effectively worthless as one of the venture rounds had a 2x participating preference. Acquiring company offered same salary, no equity. I would have been better off quitting the startup and applying for a new role at the acquiring company as they were paying other engineers comparable to me $165.

The founders did ok, the investors did great, the typical employee (I was not first but was in the first 100) pretty much got screwed.

[causehealth101]

You've worked at 11 startups?! How long have you been in the industry?

[dgvkx19z7f80gqq]

~20 years, several of those startups barely managed to survive a year. I started at a more traditional tech company and got recruited to a startup after a couple of years.