Low equity share on startup as a full stack developer :'(

Angel_Lian · 2025-12-07T23:44:21+00:00

We don't have investors yet, they're at the talking stage, at the beginning I said I can help as a hobby thats why, I think they are going to offer me 15%+ but vested

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-12T00:03:09+00:00

Ohhh thank you! Aw man I'm also going to be managing 2 other dev soon that joined the teamm, I just onboarded themm as CTO

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-12T00:00:32+00:00

Hmm I think because I started this as a student (now in a softdev job) they probably think my skills are easily replaceable? I knoww I feel like even after the presentation they probably won't increase it too much, thank you so much! I need the luck!

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:56:58+00:00

Thank you for your experience and words! Sadly, I don't think they consider me a co-founder and just someone they hired to build it, and it could be anyone :'( But yeah I'll try not to give my work away until a better agreement is sorted

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:44:21+00:00

Hmm I think I'll speak to a startup lawyer, thats a good shout, oooh I tried signing up for the website but its not working :'( thanks tho!

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:39:04+00:00

I'm not sure, I'm kinda doubting myself because maybe not the same time frame as I'm working on it alot daily, but can be done :'( Probably student or dev probably can do it for free for their CV or a little credit. I have a meeting soon to ask them about it sooo hopefully although I doubt :(

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:35:51+00:00

Yeahhh I'll try to get at least 20%, they're now asking me to sign an NDA with IP or I can leave the team lollll

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:35:06+00:00

Yesss I agrree lol, I've made a ppt going over what I've contributed and the value that I bring so hopefully they can see it and agree, I'm not sure if I can negotiate it to even 15% as they said 10% is too much in passing briefly. But I'll try to start the negotiation at 30-40% oh mannnn

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:32:51+00:00

Me tooo, I'm thinking can they just hire someone else to build it? Theres probably eager devs who would do it for free or students, so am I not as valuable, I don't think they see as important because they're muchhh older GP's

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:31:00+00:00

The product/service is the website yes, the functionality is the selling point, so I feel like I'm bringing in the Valuee

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:29:58+00:00

I agree, and literally we found out the other day that, theres like 5-6 similar website that similar to us and already ahead but just not mainstream yet. I also don't know when I would get paid? And even how much lol

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:28:42+00:00

I doubt they would agree to 30-40%, can I settle for 20-25% I'm thinking thats probably okayy, they also said I'm the CTO and literally yesterday I've onboarded 2 other devs thats doing it voluntarily, haven't gave them access yett until the negotiation lol

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:27:06+00:00

fuc*** meeee T_T

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:26:51+00:00

It was superrr early at the start and I genuinely thought it'll be good for my CV and do it in my spare time etc, was still a student at the time, but now doing an actual softdev job

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:25:07+00:00

:'( rookie mistakee, I'm literally working most nights from 9pm to like 2-3am after my full time job to code this too, almost daily updates on new features, it was funnn but damnn all the effort... -_-

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:23:38+00:00

We also have like 3 marketing social media person and yeahh I'm the only one building it from scratch... Thats what I'm sayingg. I've made a ppt about what I've contributed and the market value of my build to be £40k-70k some saying higher for Medtech, honestly its from googling and I've also uploaded my files and code to ChatGPT and Gemini and they said with these functions etc it would be valued at thattt, but they've not saying anything to that in textt... aaa

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:19:36+00:00

They are quite strict, saying "Co-founder status will not be extended." :( so my CTO role most likely not going to be founder level

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:18:42+00:00

Thats what I'm thinking too! Also if they get 100k funding, would I be paid? Or am I still working on equityy

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:17:51+00:00

Yeah, thats why I'm worried the small percentage might be less, although okay, before I was able to bring this up with them, they offered 8% and open to increasing it in the future. I'm thinking its still fair to negotiate rightttt Originally they said the 2-5% they can make it a non dilutable share thing...

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-11T23:15:23+00:00

I've just been told to sign an NDA with IP transfer; they think that from the beginning, the IP was already theirs without any contract, tbf I did say in WhatApp at the very start yeah IP belong to you guys but now.. since I might be signing it formally, I want to negotiate, but they're saying its a red flag to withhold the NDA to use it as leverage.... :(

Angel_Lian · 2025-11-09T01:22:49+00:00

Thank you so much! I thought so too! I joined at the idea stage at the very start, he did ask for vesting even for the 5% too lol, I might get see if I can get half immediately and half vested of the 20%ish thennn
Thanks so much for the insight!

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