Exhausted other options(1) and finally here. 
I believe this forum has people who have been there and done it.I have options worth 2% in a Series A company. 7 years in the making.
50% vested and I exercised 50% of the vested ones.The company is in talks to sell. This may happen in the next 4-8 months. The target buyers are 3 public companies and 3 private but cash-rich companies.I have heard horror stories about early employees not making anything despite
a high valuation on exit. The worst horror story is the position is eliminated and the employee is forced to exercise or leave everything on the table and walk away.Are there any tips to not be part of the continued early employee horror stories?Some of the questions to get the guidance, mostly tips on how to frame the conversation.I am part of the management team and have some leverage to ask for a few things if not everything.1. Is there a way to get some cash out on exit?This is primarily working ass off for 7 years on a regular salary
and never really benefited the growth.2. What happens to unvested options?3. Can I ask for acceleration? If yes, any tips to frame the discussion4. How to protect the vested but not exercised options in the evening of leaving the new company?5. Is there anything to ask at this stage that companies can easily afford to give, without putting the founders in a tricky position?Much appreciate references to CA or other experts or agencies to learn this financial engineering part.  Thanks.PS 1:I have talked to a few people at  through the paid session but didn't get any useful information.Read through articles at carta.com but those are all surfacing skimming style one.Talked to a few friends too.