Cliff Notes on Equity
Startup equity is weirdly hard to figure out. Most of us have nodded along during an offer call then spent hours asking Claude to break down all the terms thrown around and tax implications after. Or texted a friend “is this a good grant??” at 1am. You’re not alone.
We’re bringing together perspectives from venture capital, secondary markets, and wealth planning for an honest, tactical conversation about startup equity in 2026. This is a safe space to ask the questions you’ve been too embarrassed, too nervous, or too polite to ask out loud.
What we'll cover:
ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, and all the other acronyms in your offer letter
Early exercise, exercise windows, tax surprises
Secondary markets and what to watch out for
Real-life scenarios (and some of your scenarios too) around equity
We'll do an hour panel discussion followed by freeform time after - you can connect with other attendees or us to chat more about specific equity questions.
Small bites and drinks will be provided.
Obligatory disclaimer: none of this is financial advice. Spots are limited and approval-only.
Our Panelists:
Sam Borja, Investor @ Menlo Ventures
Jeremiah Gordon, Director of Private Capital Markets @ Forge Global
Joyce Franklin, wealth advisor specializing in equity compensation and planning around major liquidity events
About the Host:
Avenue is a recruiting co run by people who've been in your shoes (Sahil, Danielle, Enya). We represent engineering and operations talent in SF and NYC, partnering with companies before they publicly start hiring.
Rho (https://rho.co/?utm_source=luma) is the all-in-one banking platform for startups and the accountants supporting them. With banking setup in minutes, cashback cards, and powerful tools for managing spend, paying bills, and closing the books, Rho helps high-growth startups move fast and stay focused — backed by support that goes to the end of the earth to help you win.