Startups Take Note: Pinterest Will Allow Ex-Employees to Keep Vested Stock Options for Seven Years
TL;DR
Analysis of Pinterest's landmark 2015 decision to offer 7-year exercise windows.
Documents Pinterest's landmark decision to extend exercise windows to 7 years, one of the first major tech companies to do so. Provides legal and practical analysis for other companies considering the change.
Key Findings from Workbench (2015)
- Pinterest extended exercise windows to 7 years for employees with 2+ years service
- Move was seen as setting new standard for startup equity practices
- Legal and tax implications are manageable for companies adopting extended windows
- Other major companies followed Pinterest's lead