In the startup ecosystem, equity is often promised but rarely delivered to employees. 'Make Equity Accessible' aims to change that.
In the bustling world of startups, equity is a golden promise, but usually becomes golden handcuffs. Equity is supposed to be the big upside for startup employees. A startup company provides its employees with an employee stock option plan as a financial incentive, rewarding them for taking the risk to help create something from the ground up. But for most employees, startup equity doesn’t turn into a financial reward—it becomes a financial dream that is just out of reach. You earn it, but you can’t access it. It gets locked up, forgotten, or left behind.
That’s how much employees have missed out on—simply because they couldn’t afford to exercise or sell their pre-IPO equity. The problem isn’t just individual. It’s systemic. When employees try to sell, companies face a mess: complicated cap tables, legal headaches, and administrative drag. Everyone loses.
Equity has value. But between the financial risk, legal restrictions, and lack of liquidity, that value is often theoretical. What employees need isn’t more equity. They need better access to the equity they already have.
This is the gap: what equity could be vs. what it actually is. It’s time to fix that.
Getting real value from startup equity is harder than it should be. Most employees run into serious roadblocks when trying to turn their employee stock option plan into cash.
First, they have to exercise those options—which often means putting a lot of money on the line. That’s a risky move. According to Failory, 90% of startups fail. Around 10% shut down in the first year, and 70% don’t survive past year five. And the smartest time to exercise options is usually early—right after they vest—when the strike price is closest to the fair market value. But that’s also when risk is highest and your liquidity is lowest.
So here’s the real question: if you’re not sitting on a pile of cash, does it make sense to spend thousands on equity with a 90% chance of becoming worthless in five years?
Second, the private market is a mess. It’s opaque, slow, and full of red tape. Even when you find a buyer, companies can block or restrict transfers. You might have equity on paper, but no practical way to access its value.
Startup employees earn this equity. But for too many, it stays locked up—untouchable and unusable.
Startup Anthology is working on a project called Make Equity Accessible. This project is all about helping employees get the real value from their equity, which is like a piece of the company they work for.
Usually, people have to wait a long time to get money from their equity, but this platform changes that. It lets employees combine their small pieces of equity with others in the same company to make a bigger, more appealing package for buyers. This makes it easier to sell and get money from it.
Making equity easier to access isn't just about getting money for yourself; it's about changing how employees can handle their financial futures. When employees can use their equity, they have more choices with their money.
They don't have to worry about spending all their savings to use their stock options or losing the equity they worked hard for. This freedom helps them plan for the future confidently, whether it's for personal growth, taking care of their family, or trying new things.
Making equity accessible also brings positive changes to startup culture. It makes sure that everyone who helps the company succeed gets a fair share of the rewards, not just the leaders. This fairness makes employees happier and more likely to stay with the company, creating a more motivated team. It also makes the private equity market more open and fair for everyone.
By removing barriers, the market becomes better for regular employees, encouraging new ideas and growth. This openness leads to better market understanding and smarter investment choices, helping the industry grow even more.
To start using Make Equity Accessible, employees just need to fill out a simple form called the Seller Interest Form. This is the first step to turning their equity into real money. By sharing this form with coworkers who also want to sell, they can make their equity more attractive to buyers. The main goal of this project is to make it easier, safer, and fairer for employees to use their equity. The platform cuts through all the complicated stuff and makes it simple for employees to finally get the benefits of the equity they’ve earned.
PLEASE NOTE: By submitting the Seller Interest Form is not a commitment nor a solicitation to buy or sell — it’s just a way for us to gather information and gauge interest. This form is for informational purposes only and is intended to assess interest from prospective sellers.