Advice needed- Laid off take a Startup Job- No Equity but Draw + 150/150 OTE

Question

Fam- weird times, got laid off 9 months into my new gig as a strat/enterprise ae. I was 130% on my 9 month ramp but the org did the old PIP/Severance shit because they don't want to have layoffs (tons people got it). Was selling in the performance HR space and looking to move back to martech.

Looking at a small startup 30-60pp people-solid product- heres the kicker- no equity at all. Tons of inbound and I would be the first real AE hire.

No long term acquisition plans for the org or funding needed they have bootstrapped it forever.

CEO is cool, CRO is cool, tons of promise.

WWYD?

Accepted Answer

Equity = maybe one day

Answer

Do you want equity? I view it as icing on top of cash and don’t value it too much. Also, will you hit quota based on volumes? If so, then make your money and move up/on when ready.

Answer

The money is more valuable to me than the equity. The equity is often fake anyway, rank and file employees only get anything substantial if certain conditions happen via IPO or acquisition, and even then only if the company is valuable enough, and even then rank and file employees are usually last to be paid out.

For me equity sits up there fancy company offsites or president's club trips. Sure, it's a nice thing, but I'd rather just be set up to hit my number and be paid.

Answer

If it's a healthy offer on the salary side...go for it. Sounds like you like the company, product, and people.

Answer

I tried to cash unvested options once.

Answer

Unless there are other offers on the table, I would take it all day long

Answer

As my friend told me... 10,000 shares of nothing isn't really anything.

Answer

Thank you all for responding this group is so awesome

Answer

Agreed with most others. Equity is worthless if they have no exit strategy. Take the job, show them what you can do. Who knows what can happen after that.

Answer

Just secure the bag, friend.

Answer

Get the money man, equity is surrounded with so many clauses. I don’t take the acquisition shit seriously, my company had said the said thing and within 6 months of joining it was acquired but for good.

Answer

Sounds like a good offer to me - I'd take the sure thing.

Answer

No equity? So what. Its only worth something if they go public.

Donutpanda

Advice needed- Laid off take a Startup Job- No Equity but Draw + 150/150 OTE

20 comments

Donutpanda

Advice needed- Laid off take a Startup Job- No Equity but Draw + 150/150 OTE

20 comments

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