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You seem to be confusing the expected value of a startup with the value of one's equity. There is a reason that the vast majority of vested stock options go unexercised when employees leave companies.

Additionally, you are not factoring in liquidation preferences. Rhetorical question: what's 10% of $10 million when your investors put in $5 million and have a 2x liquidation preference?



You seem to not understand the notion of expected value.

If the strike price is a concern, it could probably be negotiated down. I had the impression the they have generally gone down anyway.


> If the strike price is a concern, it could probably be negotiated down.

Please ask a qualified accountant about Section 409A of the tax code and what happens if you're granted stock options at less than fair market value.




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