fidelcashflow

Account Executive

Founding AE Equity

Savages,

How much Equity should one expect for a Founding AE role? If you've been a Founding AE or given equity to a Founding AE as a leader/founder can you please vote below? It looks like the sweet spot is around 0.2-0.3 based on just searching the web.

I know it really varies based on a lot so feel free to vote based on your own stats but also comment on the following:

Series A/Seed

Less than 20EE

Comp is slightly above market rate

Senior Position - More than just selling but also contributing to all angles of the business.

How much Equity?

Attached poll

<0.1% 0.1-0.3% 0.3-0.5% >0.5%

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

📉 Equity

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

☁️ Software Tech

20 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

It's never enough

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Isn't this always the answer?

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Most "founding AEs" end up floundering anyhow

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Yup. Even if they don’t the companies rarely make it to a point that the equity is worth anything

fidelcashflow

Catalyst

Account Executive

Honestly, both of you are totally right. I think I would rather have an increase in base pay if a company said no.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Aka “floundering AEs”. You should trademark that.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

#coinedit

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

Exactly, because your founding 'shares' constantly get diluted.

BTQ

Politicker

Account Manager

I feel like it'd be north of 0.5% tbh

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Yeah that feel low for a founding member

fidelcashflow

Catalyst

Account Executive

I haven't seen any evidence on job postings that would suggest >0.5%. Although I did see a post here and that person said his offer was 0.5

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Greater than .5 is VP level or north in my experience. .3-.4 is a win.

SaaSyBee

Politicker

Founder

Woah. I've never gotten equity. I've gotten options.

fidelcashflow

Catalyst

Account Executive

Lmao. You know what I mean mr/Mrs technical ;)

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Don't have an equity option where I'm at:)

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Negotiate for higher equity or lower equity and a higher base, consider how many companies never make it acquisition let alone IPO.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Founding better get my ass paid.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

I would re-work these choices. There are too many factors here. I've seen many founding AEs secure over 1%....

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Enough for a hostile takeover if needed

MyAnonymousName

Opinionated

Sales Leader

As an AE, whether founding or not, the likelihood of your options becoming worth anything, let alone worth negotiating is nearly 0%.

I would pull on other levers (base, total comp, whatever perks matter to you, etc) and then if/when you get promoted and grow the team ensure you are negotiating equity as part of that promotion.