Equity Vesting Playbook – Advisors

Advisors play a valuable role in supporting startups by providing strategic guidance, industry expertise, and critical connections. In exchange for their services, startups often grant non-qualified stock options (NQSOs).

Below, we highlight four key vesting terms:

Vesting Duration: How long until the options are 100% vested
Cliff vs. No Cliff: Percentage of options that included a cliff
Cliff Length: Length of the initial cliff period
Vesting Frequency: How often options vest