Startup Terms Glossary
What is a Vesting Schedule?
A vesting schedule is a tool used by startups to define how long an employee must remain with the company before they are fully vested in their options. A vesting schedule also indicates in what increments that vesting increases as time goes on. Some companies grant rights to ownership on a quarterly basis, while others award additional vesting rights only yearly.
Vesting Schedule Examples
Examples of vesting schedule:
- Example 1. A startup company’s vesting schedule is compounded yearly, with a term of four full years for an employee to become fully vested. Their vesting schedule indicates that for each complete year that an employee works for the company, they are granted 25% of the value of their shares.
Here’s another web page about a vesting schedule.
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Meet some of our Vesting Schedule Lawyers
Sam Y.
I am a Connecticut-licensed business attorney with over a decade of combined legal and business-operations experience, including roles as in-house counsel, Director of Operations & Compliance, and Director of Growth. I provide practical, business-focused legal solutions to entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized businesses, and investors who need a trusted advisor that understands both the legal and operational realities of running a company.
"Had great SaaS product legal knowledge and got me everything I needed."
Jeff G.
Jeff has 25 years of commercial transactional experience within numerous industries, including finance/banking, telecommunications/utilities, insurance, and software. He is a recognized authority on contracts, software licensing and negotiation. Jeff earned his Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law and his Masters in Business Administration from North Carolina State University and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Indiana.
"Jeff was very quick to respond and very thorough in his responses. I would absolutely work with Jeff again."
October 29, 2024
Jerry C.
I have been practicing law for over twenty years. My practice includes employment/labor law, alternative dispute resolution, estate planning, business and general civil matters.
October 31, 2024
Patrick W.
Patrick is a seasoned attorney with over 11 years of experience in corporate law, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance, with a specialization in emerging technologies such as AI and Web 3.0. Patrick works with commercial contract negotiations for technology startups, managing multi-million-dollar agreements, and offering comprehensive corporate governance services, including stock plan administration, cap table management, and day to day advising. One of Patrick’s career highlights includes his tenure at SharesPost Inc., a pioneering fintech startup, where he served as Senior Legal Counsel and later Interim General Counsel. In this role, Patrick led product legal risk management, negotiated SaaS and data processing agreements, and ensured compliance with SEC, FINRA, and DBO regulations. He played a pivotal role in the company's growth working closely with operations and sales, until such time teh company was acquired. In addition to his work at SharesPost, Patrick’s experience includes serving as Policy Counsel at Bird Global and General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Planned Parenthood Northern California, where he oversaw a $60M revenue organization, directed legal strategy for EHR migration, and ensured compliance with state and federal privacy laws.
John B.
J. D. Bridges has worked both in-house and in firms and has seen countless commercial agreements and technology deals from every angle. J. D.’s worked as in-house counsel for high-growth, VC-backed startups, IT solutions providers and cybersecurity companies and also at an AmLaw Top 50 global firm, representing clients in a variety of industries and purchasers and creators of technology across the globe. He’s negotiated commercial contracts with some of the world’s largest financial services and pharmaceutical companies, as well as assisting startups from incorporation to exit. He’s also helped Fortune 100 companies protect themselves and their data when procuring technology from startups and legacy technology providers alike. J. D. brings a practical and growth-focused mindset to legal advice and excels in working with front-line sales organizations and sales leadership as well as internal counsel, business owners and procurement professionals. Whether a pre-seed AI startup, established manufacturer or a global IT procurement effort, J. D. can support you while concurrently growing and protecting your business.
November 13, 2024
Alyssa C.
Illinois-licensed attorney with 9 years of experience in public interest work utilizing advanced skills in contract & project management, compliance, investigation, risk management, & training. Proven record developing and managing partnerships to deliver exceptional results in government agencies, non-profits, law firms, and broad community networks leading to multi-million dollar recoveries, risk management, and execution of large-scale program initiatives. Skills include: 1. Project & Contract Management: 9 years in project & contract management tracking project and contract goals, stages, budgets, and deliverables to lead and support program and department initiatives. 2. Compliance, Investigation, & Risk Management: 9 years in law, policy, & programs conducting investigation, research, writing, analysis, and education in administrative agency and court matters relating to: compliance, financial regulation, contracts, employment, workforce development, healthcare, retirement assets, mental health, disability, taxes, immigration, civil rights, grants, benefits, social services, & criminal defense. 3. Training/Teaching: 4 years training co-workers & community partners; 3 years teaching in U.S. & Ecuador (7 total). 4. Technology: Microsoft Office (including Excel), Contract Express, DocuSign, SharePoint, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, Concordance, GoldFynch, Clio, Smokeball, Qualtrics, Google Forms, Slack, Zoom, Teams, Webex, & Adobe. 5. Spanish: Advanced Spanish skills from 1 year of teaching, studying, & travel in Ecuador, Peru, & Mexico.
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