Total Compensation Model
Startup Offer vs. Public Company
Compare risk-adjusted startup comp against a public company offer. Adjust scenario probabilities to stress-test your assumptions.
AStartup Offer
Cash Compensation
$
$
Target, if anyEquity & Company
Total grant
$
$
Latest roundBPublic Company Offer
$
$
$
Per-year grant valueDefaults: FMV = strike price ($5.00) · Dilution = 25% · Preset = Base Case
Compare4-Year Total Compensation
Startup — Expected Total Comp
$1.00M
$820K cash + $183K expected equity over 4 yrs
Public Co. — Total Comp
$1.28M
$960K cash + $320K RSUs over 4 yrs
Expected difference: $-277K
Scenario Payouts vs. Public Co. Benchmark
The vertical line marks the public company total ($1.28M). Coral bars exceed it.
Public Co. Total$1.28M
$1.28M
Total Failure (20%)$820K
$820K
Distressed Sale (15%)$820K
$820K
Down-Round Exit (18%)$820K
$820K
Flat / Modest (17%)$820K
$820K
Solid Growth (15%)$1.04M
$1.04M
Strong IPO (10%)$1.51M
$1.51M
Breakout (5%)$2.44M
$2.44M
| Exit Scenario | Prob. | Exit Val. | $/Share | Option Payout | Total Comp | vs. Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Failure | 20% | $0 | $0.00 | $0 | $820K | $-460K |
Distressed Sale | 15% | $180.0M | $0.56 | $0 | $820K | $-460K |
Down-Round Exit | 18% | $480.0M | $1.50 | $0 | $820K | $-460K |
Flat / Modest | 17% | $1.2B | $3.75 | $0 | $820K | $-460K |
Solid Growth | 15% | $3.0B | $9.38 | $219K | $1.04M | $-241K |
Strong IPO | 10% | $6.0B | $18.75 | $688K | $1.51M | +$228K |
Breakout | 5% | $12.0B | $37.50 | $1.63M | $2.44M | +$1.17M |
| Probability-Weighted | 100% | $183K | $1.00M | $-277K |
Scenario Breakdown
Total Failure20%
Exit Val.
$0
$/Share
$0.00
Option Payout
$0
Total Comp
$820K
vs. Public
$-460K
Distressed Sale15%
Exit Val.
$180.0M
$/Share
$0.56
Option Payout
$0
Total Comp
$820K
vs. Public
$-460K
Down-Round Exit18%
Exit Val.
$480.0M
$/Share
$1.50
Option Payout
$0
Total Comp
$820K
vs. Public
$-460K
Flat / Modest17%
Exit Val.
$1.2B
$/Share
$3.75
Option Payout
$0
Total Comp
$820K
vs. Public
$-460K
Solid Growth15%
Exit Val.
$3.0B
$/Share
$9.38
Option Payout
$219K
Total Comp
$1.04M
vs. Public
$-241K
Strong IPO10%
Exit Val.
$6.0B
$/Share
$18.75
Option Payout
$688K
Total Comp
$1.51M
vs. Public
+$228K
Breakout5%
Exit Val.
$12.0B
$/Share
$37.50
Option Payout
$1.63M
Total Comp
$2.44M
vs. Public
+$1.17M
Probability-Weighted
Expected Payout
$183K
Expected Total
$1.00M
vs. Public
$-277K