[webwright]

I didn't throw out a # other than a 25% wag, but there are several outstanding questions. If they had a 4 month head start (11 months in versus the poster's 7 months) that'd give them 37.5% each to his 25%. But, as I said, there are lots of other factors to consider in the buckets of "contribution" and "risk". For all I know, the third founder might have a TON more to contribute and deserve MORE than a third!

In general, though-- I think people attach a lot of emotional weight to "I had the idea" and "I've been working at this a few months before you came on board" (UNLESS that few months reduced the risk-- i.e. customer acquisition/validation reduces a lot of risk while futzing with code for a few months really doesn't). In 5+ years, the idea is going to change and that original few months of contribution is going to be pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Regardless, the contribution in the FUTURE is likely what's going to matter most... Which is why vesting is important.