> You are being given the numerator without knowing the denominator, so it is all worth zero until you get to see the Cap Table. Most startups wont let you see the Cap Table.
Every single time I've accepted a job at a startup that offered ISO stock options, I knew # of shares outstanding (the denominator), terms of all funding rounds, strike price, exit strategy, total amount of money raised, who the major investors are on the cap table, etc.
The jobs were at startups funded by the best investors in the world and high caliber founders who valued transparency. One went on to become a unicorn, and the other is an extremely early seed stage company where I work now.
If a startup isn't willing to give you information beyond # of options granted, then that is a red flag in my book. Not all startups are like that.
Every single time I've accepted a job at a startup that offered ISO stock options, I knew # of shares outstanding (the denominator), terms of all funding rounds, strike price, exit strategy, total amount of money raised, who the major investors are on the cap table, etc.
The jobs were at startups funded by the best investors in the world and high caliber founders who valued transparency. One went on to become a unicorn, and the other is an extremely early seed stage company where I work now.
If a startup isn't willing to give you information beyond # of options granted, then that is a red flag in my book. Not all startups are like that.