lowhangersalesbanger

Account Executive

Exercise my options or just leave it?

Before I left my last company I had a little less than 10,000 shares vested. Later this month is the cutoff for me buying those shares or losing them. It would only be a few hundred dollars to take the equity. I have virtually no faith that the company will go anywhere in the future, and I would not be shocked if the board forced the sale of the company's IP/software in the next 12 months.

Knowing that and nothing else, what would you savages do?

Buy shares of a (likely) dying company or nah?

Attached poll

Buy the shares Fuck that invest in a nice dinner with the Mrs.

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🤷‍♂ Poll

📉 Equity

20 comments

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CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

If it’s truly a dumpster fire company, don’t bother but even if there’s a 10% chance of a return, I’d say take the gamble.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

It's hard to argue this point.

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

A few hundred bucks sounds like it's worth it to me. Should be pretty easy to do the math to see if it's worth the risk. Run the numbers on best, worst, and middle ground valuations. If you'd be ok with the worst case go for it.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Run the numbers? Numbers do not have legs though

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

ha GOT EM

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

That's why you run them and not the other way around ;)

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I'd buy the shares. You never know what may happen. A dying company might be picked up by a bigger company who's shares are actually worth something.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Go out for a nice dinner.

butwhy

Politicker

Solutions Engineer

I say nah, even a PE acquisition will probs be a fire sale and nobody is getting a cent.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

Relatively low risk to buy the shares, with a good risk/reward ratio. Buy em...

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Go for it before it's totally gone!

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

If you can afford the risk, why not?

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

You also don’t have to exercise all of your shares. If the full boat is too much then exercise half or what ever % you would have no issue losing if it burned to the ground.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Would it be worth the lottery ticket? Also, did they raise any money since you were granted and today? If so, 100% but it. If not, depends

lowhangersalesbanger

Politicker

Account Executive

No additional raise. I do know from my own elbow rubbing our investors are unhappy and that they dislike the founders/ leadership at this point. I don’t think they could raise another cent

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Then a forced sale looks like it is in the cards. If that’s the case, I’m not sure if you will get your cash out, but might be a pass (have done that in the past).

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

what's your gut feeling as you have been with the company? There is always a risk - you'll get some or lose all and if you're scared of losing why not just invest.

MoreCompassion

Opinionated

Account Executive

What's the difference in your exercise price and the price in the most recent raise?

clients4u

Executive

Client stuff

Buy the shares if you can afford it. It’s a low price to keep upside exposure even if it’s a long shot chance they appreciate. If the board forces a sale, you could net a return since they’ll try their best to sell at better than break even. Speaking from past experience here.

charlescarmichael

Good Citizen

Senior Sales Engineer

I’d buy the shares for a few hundred bucks. You’re probably a kickass sales person and so your first commish check at your next sales role will cover that easily.

Just consider it $ you’re never going to get back, and if it does lead to something, it will be a nice surprise

Also note that if it’s a preferred share program, even in a liquidation event where shareholders are paid out, yours could be lower priority where there isn’t a payout at all. Just something to be aware of