Founders fight over equity like it's gold. Carta showed us it's sand.

Over 70% of vested options are never exercised when employees leave. By Q4 2024, exercise rate dropped to 32.2% (was 54% three years
prior).

Co-founder breakup data is equally brutal:
→ 45% split within 4 years (Wasserman, USC)
→ 40% leave before IPO
→ 20% of YC startups lose a co-founder

That extra 2% you fought over? Coin-flip chance nobody's collecting it.

Being generous with equity at pre-seed is statistically free. Most of it returns to you anyway.

Stop counting points. Start calling your lawyer.

https://carta.com/data/stock-options-math-2024/