1stWorldProblems: Strike price increased between offer and receiving stock options

[Sukhoi]

I just started at a startup a few weeks ago. At the time of my offer HR discussed the current strike price for the options I would be receiving. I received the options recently, and after the most recent valuation the strike price has nearly doubled. Is it reasonable for me to ask for additional options to offset the significant decrease in their value? I know the strike price itself is not negotiable.

 

[Bock]

Did you get anything in writing? if not, there isn't jackshit you can do about it.

In fact, unless you get paid in full every 2 weeks/ a month, watch out. If most of your pay is performance/bonus/commission and they withhold it for a while like 3-6 mos.. you aren't going to get paid. If they do pay you, its going to be at minimum wage.

 

[Markbnj]

Don't worry about it, because if they get anywhere near creating a lot of value they will most likely dilute the crap out of the option pool anyway.

 

[Sukhoi]

No, nothing in writing. Just what I was told over the phone when I was discussing the offer with HR. The conversation was that the strike price was currently $XX.XX and would change with the company valuations. However it was not made clear that it would be over a month after my start date to receive the options, and consequently there would be a good chance for a significant change in the strike price.

During the discussion HR said based on how similar sized startups with similar financials had done in the recent past the options could be worth a decent sum of money (obviously up to market performance regarding my company). So that's why I was asking if I should talk to HR again, as from my view my options are worth roughly 1/2 what they were when I signed the offer. But you're probably right that it's not worth arguing about this.

No issues on the pay - it isn't that early of a startup.