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Founder Vesting Schedule Guide
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Act as a startup legal advisor with 10+ years of experience in equity structuring. Provide a step-by-step guide on how to create a fair and legally compliant vesting schedule for founders in a [STARTUP_NAME]. Include details on:
1. Standard vesting periods (e.g., [4_YEARS] with a [1_YEAR] cliff)
2. Key clauses to protect the company (e.g., acceleration upon [ACQUISITION_EVENT])
3. How to handle early departures and equity clawbacks
4. Customization options for [UNIQUE_CIRCUMSTANCES] like part-time founders.
Format your response as a checklist with actionable items and legal considerations.
How to use this prompt
1
Click Copy Full Prompt above.
2
Replace all [BRACKETS] with your details.
3
Paste into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and hit send.
Frequently Asked Questions
A founder vesting schedule is a timeline that outlines when founders earn their equity in a startup. It ensures commitment by distributing ownership over time, typically 4 years with a 1-year cliff. This protects the company if a founder leaves early.
A vesting schedule aligns founders' interests with the company's long-term success. It prevents premature equity dilution and ensures founders stay committed. This structure is crucial for investor confidence and startup stability.
The standard vesting period for founders is 4 years with a 1-year cliff. This means no equity vests in the first year, then monthly or quarterly thereafter. Some startups adjust terms based on roles or funding rounds.
Yes, acceleration clauses can speed up vesting during specific events like acquisition. Single-trigger acceleration occurs at acquisition, while double-trigger requires both acquisition and termination. These terms are negotiable in founder agreements.
A cliff period is typically 1 year where no equity vests. If a founder leaves before the cliff, they forfeit all unvested shares. After the cliff, vesting begins incrementally (e.g., monthly) for the remaining period.
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