vesting acceleration

Definition

Speeding up the vesting schedule of stock options, typically triggered by acquisition or termination. It's the consolation prize when your startup gets acquired and you're suddenly unemployed.

Example Usage

My single-trigger acceleration meant all my unvested shares became mine immediately when we were acquired.

Origin

Employment equity terminology developed in the 1980s-1990s

Fun Fact

Double-trigger acceleration (requiring both acquisition AND termination) is now standard to prevent employees from leaving immediately post-acquisition.

Source: Employment law and equity compensation practices

Related Terms

Intermediate

Stock Options

The right to buy company shares at a set price in the future, given to employees as compensation for the salary they're not getting. They're worth millions on paper and nothing in reality, making them the participation trophies of startup compensation.

🚀 Startup / VC

Intermediate

proprietary deal

An investment opportunity sourced exclusively by one firm rather than through competitive process. The venture capital equivalent of finding $20 in your coat pocket—rare, lucky, and probably won't happen again.

🚀 Startup / VC

Intermediate

change of control

Any transaction that transfers majority ownership or control of a company, typically triggering various contractual provisions like vesting acceleration, payment obligations, or approval rights. The legal definition of when your startup stops being yours.

🚀 Startup / VC

Intermediate

TAM

Total Addressable Market -- the theoretical maximum revenue if you sold your product to every possible customer on Earth, including people who don't want it, can't afford it, and live in places without internet. It's the biggest number in every pitch deck and the most fictional.

🚀 Startup / VC

Intermediate

land grab

Aggressively pursuing market share and user growth at the expense of profitability or unit economics, betting that dominance now will create a moat later. It's monopoly thinking fueled by venture capital.

🚀 Startup / VC

Advanced

hurdle rate

The minimum return a VC fund must achieve before partners can collect carried interest—usually 8% annually. The bar LPs set to ensure their capital at least beats a boring index fund before the GP gets rich.

🚀 Startup / VC

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