Title: I need your advice, guys.<p>Angel-funded startup isn&#x27;t going to make it to its series A, will be going on the auction block soon. I&#x27;m an employee with a significant equity stake, but not a founder, who invented and implemented the software which is the company&#x27;s sole salable asset. (In hindsight I am very aware that this was a lousy situation to have put myself in, but here we are anyway.)<p>The software has real value, good market visibility, and actual sales. I don&#x27;t think we&#x27;ll have much trouble finding buyers -- but most of the likely acquirers are larger corporate types I have little interest in working for long-term. (This is at least partly burnout talking, but I&#x27;m kind of done working for other people at all at this point.)<p>So I know I need to get out in front of my management team before they make a deal I&#x27;ll walk away from, but this is new territory for me and I have no idea what would be reasonable to ask for and what would get me laughed out of the room.<p>I know there are a lot of variables here so I&#x27;m not asking for dollar amounts, just a general reality check on what I can expect from the next few months. In particular: what&#x27;s the shortest transition-the-product-to-new-ownership period I can reasonably look for? Is there typically any short-term payout for acquired employees or will everything be in salary and slow-vesting options? Is there any likelihood of an acquirer being interested in purchasing the product but not its developers? Assuming I do stick it out as an acquihire, what&#x27;s the likelihood I&#x27;d be allowed to remain in charge of my product vs having to execute on someone else&#x27;s vision? When, if ever, is it appropriate for me to ask to be included in negotiations with acquirers?  Most importantly: how do I best stand up for my own interests here, without being the asshole that ruins the deal for everyone?
Upvote: