We recently spoke with partners at Fenwick & West, about the laws and regulations concerning compensation, how they’re applied to employee tender offers, and what steps companies can take to maximize the benefits to employees, and reduce cost and future risk.

A 90 day update on our breakaway companies and how we've helped. 

The new tax law offers relief for some employees who might otherwise have been forced to hold options or let them expire because of a large tax bill. But the new code doesn’t remove every obstacle in the way of employee liquidity—and one provision ostensibly designed to do so looks like it will fall well short. 

We recently spoke to Ryan Logue, COO of Nasdaq Private Market about the history of secondary transactions in the private market, key moments, and what lies ahead.

In order to conduct or facilitate a private tender offer, companies are often required to disclose confidential information they’re used to guarding closely. Learn more about what leading a tender offer may need to share the following with employee sellers.

But with the most successful startups staying private well beyond the old IPO windows the entrenched stock option structure can hurt both companies and employees.

We recently spoke to Craig Jacoby, legal specialist on secondary financing, about how companies should balance controlling their capitalization tables with providing liquidity opportunities to employees, and how to best manage some of the risk involved.

Ann Lucchesi, Head of Founder Advisory Services, examines what role secondary markets play in gaining liquidity, for both founders and other constituents.

You're rich! Now what? When and how founders and executives of startups should consider financial wealth planning. 

A decade ago, high-performing late-stage private companies had plenty of reasons to go public or sell themselves at year seven; solving for employee liquidity was not among them. Why it's important now.

Ray Thornson, a Managing Director at Andersen Tax, explains the rules and regulations of qualified small business stock, or QSBS, and what people can do today in order to lock in savings later.

We spoke to Jeff Thomas, Head of Listings at NASDAQ, about the various paths (private vs. IPO) his clients take to achieve liquidity for shareholders. Here are his thoughts on the subject. 

Stock options have long been a way for startups to incentivize and retain employees. But issuing them brings regulatory requirements.

Now that top companies are staying private longer they’re being forced to rethink how they manage employee incentive stock programs. Find out how this affects you. 

Kabam’s ex-COO, Kent Wakeford, reflects on the importance of culture to sustain team through the inevitable ups, downs, and pivots that any successful startup encounters.

Figuring out how to manage the type of equity—Restricted Stock, ISO, NSO, and RSU—is an ever-present challenge for startups, with the best approach changing as a company grows.

The Honest Company's Founder & ex-CEO explains why "establishing a culture with shared values is a critical part of building a successful startup."

How high-performing startups keep their teams patient, energized, and focused on the long term.

Founders Circle Capital has raised $208 million for its second fund.

Stance's Founder & CEO explains how the best brands are built through good, old-fashioned word of mouth discovery as opposed to persuasion and solicitation.

DocuSign's Chief Product Officer on when you should kill a product, how you treat customers who want a custom feature, and who should have the upper hand between product and engineering? 

The Honest Company's Founder & ex-President on how to distinguish between brand and product and the influences to the product development process.

A company’s product or service is a manifestation of its founder’s vision. They need someone to lead the effort. Someone who can extend that vision while also freeing them up to focus on other tasks. 

Please join us in heartfelt congratulations of Andrew Dreskin, Dan Teree and the entire Ticketfly team. 

Once the Founder’s Circle investment was conducted, there began the consistent flow of calls and conversations with Sam. The kind possible because Founders Circle was an investor in Elemental’s people rather than in the company.

Will Skinner, Partner at Fenwick & West’s Silicon Valley office, discusses the types of companies that qualify under the QSBS rules.

Liquidity opportunities require significant due diligence and create considerations applicable to a company’s valuation, accounting, tax, regulatory requirements, legal and human resources. Are you looking to liquidate private company shares? Take a look at the most important elements to consider on your path to equity.

Ryan Logue, COO of Nasdaq Private Market, talks about how and why private companies offer structured liquidity programs to facilitate shareholder liquidity.

Clients of the Private Bank may face reduced tax savings starting in 2017 due to new Treasury Department regulations. These new rules will impact many families’ estate plans, and we suggest that investors and executives review their current structures as soon as possible. Changes may not be needed immediately, but an assessment of your estate plan may be prudent.

Every day, we are asked by founders “How can I gain liquidity from my shares?” Generally, these individuals are looking for a loan against their private holdings, and we help them to determine which liquidity options would work best for them. This article explores some of the many ways that a founder can get the liquidity they need and continue to build their business for the long term.