Mapping the Secondary Market for Startup Employee Equity
5 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Explore paths to early liquidity including the legal, tax and pricing dynamics of sales, loans and forward contracts.
Mapping the Secondary Market for Startup Employee Equity
5 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Explore paths to early liquidity including the legal, tax and pricing dynamics of sales, loans and forward contracts.
Previously at
Course overview
Course overview
Why a course? The secondary market for startup stock, offering early cash-out opportunities for startup employees, is often called the "Gray Market for Startup Stock." Why? It sometimes acts as a black market, and even legitimate sales are rarely shared publicly.
The buyers and lenders in this space are often called the "Loan Sharks of the Startup World." Why? The market dynamics within the "Gray Market" do not inspire fair dealing.
This course will illuminate for employees, executives and founders of startups (and their advisors) the most important aspects of this market that has not been designed for public view. We will address - with a nuanced view of the complexities and a confident, clear view of these paths - the dynamics between sellers, buyers and startups, as well as the legal, tax and pricing dynamics of sales, loans and forward contracts.
This course is based on the successes, challenges, and paths forged in this dynamic space over the past decade. Students will come away with a clear view of the market and possible next steps based on others’ successful paths in this space.
Who is this course for
01
Those who are exploring possible paths to cash out their startup equity.
02
Current and former employees and executives of venture capital backed startups.
03
Advisors to individual startup equity holders.
What you’ll get out of this course
Survey the legal, market and tax landscapes of the secondary market for startup stock.
Navigate pricing, transfer restrictions and other dynamics among sellers, buyers and startups.
Weigh the pros and cons of various deal structures including sales, loans and forward contracts.
Identify possible next steps using examples of successful paths to early liquidity for startup stock.
Maven Satisfaction Guarantee
This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.
Mapping the Secondary Market for Startup Employee Equity
Course syllabus
Week 1
Prep for Day 1
Nov
4
Day 1: Legal
Prep for Day 2
Nov
6
Day 2: Markets
Prep for Day 3
Nov
8
Day 3: Tax
Stories from Course Participants
What people are saying
James Messinger
Ryan Tomayko
Igor Lotsvin
Carilu Dietrich
Meet your instructor
Mary Russell
Attorney Mary Russell advises individuals on their equity compensation. She started her legal career in Palo Alto, California advising startup companies and investors on stock matters. She uses this experience to empower individuals to make the most of their equity compensation opportunities.
Mary has seen many varied paths through the dynamics and challenges of the secondary market. She has also been quoted on the topic in the national news over the past decade. She is offering this course to open up the space to those curious to explore the possible paths to early liquidity for startup equity.
Attorney-as-educator disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This website and course contain general information and are not intended to serve as a source of legal advice for any purpose. Neither receipt of information presented on this site or course nor any email or other electronic communication sent to Stock Option Counsel, P.C. or its lawyers will create an attorney-client relationship, and no such email or communication will be treated as confidential. No user of this site or course should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information therein without seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Stock Option Counsel, P.C. and Mary Russell, Esq. expressly disclaim liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site or course. Stock Option Counsel, P.C. and Mary Russell, Esq. are licensed to practice law only in the State of California and the State of Iowa. Neither Mary Russell, Esq. nor Stock Option Counsel, P.C. are in the business of dealing in securities, and nothing on this site shall be read to cause them to be in, or hold themselves out as being in the business of dealing in securities. Stock Option Counsel, P.C. claims a copyright to the material on this website and in the course. You may use this material only for personal informational purposes. If you wish to use the material for any other purposes, you must have the express consent of Stock Option Counsel, P.C. to do so. All rights reserved.
Course schedule
One week course
November 4 - 8, 2024
Targeted, one-week course
Focus on the essentials with a targeted one-week course taught by seasoned professionals with expert knowledge of the space.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
12:00pm - 1:00pm PST
Three live sessions with time for Q&A on the course topics. The sessions are recorded and available in Maven for 12 months.
Guided Reflection
For each session
Guided reflection to apply learnings as you consider your possible next steps to early liquidity for startup stock.
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