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Co-founder exiting after pivot – what's a fair exit package?

Throwaway for obvious reasons. I’m a co-founder of a venture-backed startup currently valued at ~$20M. We raised a strong pre-seed, built a team, shipped v1, generated revenue, and recently pivoted into a related idea that I think could work—but I’m no longer the right person to lead it. My co-founder is passionate about the new direction and wants to take it forward. I want to step away cleanly and with integrity. I have ~10% vested. I led our early fundraise, worked unpaid for months, and con

Robinhood CEO downplays OpenAI concerns on tokenized stock structure

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev says it's not "entirely relevant" that the trading platform's so-called tokenized shares of OpenAI and SpaceX aren't technically equity in the companies. It comes after OpenAI raised concerns about the product, which is designed to give users in the European Union exposure to various U.S. stocks — including private companies, which are less liquid than publicly listed firms. OpenAI last week warned that Robinhood's stock tokens do not represent equity in the company an

OpenAI Warns You Not to Buy Its Fake Stock

OpenAI has a message for anyone who thinks they’re about to cash in on the AI boom by buying a new “OpenAI token” on Robinhood: Don’t. But in a chaotic turn, Elon Musk just suggested that even the company’s real equity might be an illusion. The maker of ChatGPT, in a rare public warning posted on X (formerly Twitter), disavowed any involvement with crypto-like financial products claiming to offer a piece of its business. “These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity,” the company wrote. “We did

Owning a Piece of ChatGPT Was Already Messy. Then Elon Musk Made It Weirder

OpenAI has a message for anyone who thinks they’re about to cash in on the AI boom by buying a new “OpenAI token” on Robinhood: Don’t. But in a chaotic turn, Elon Musk just suggested that even the company’s real equity might be an illusion. The maker of ChatGPT, in a rare public warning posted on X (formerly Twitter), disavowed any involvement with crypto-like financial products claiming to offer a piece of its business. “These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity,” the company wrote. “We did

OpenAI condemns Robinhood’s ‘OpenAI tokens’

OpenAI wants to make clear that Robinhood’s sale of “OpenAI tokens” will not give everyday consumers equity — or stock — in OpenAI, the company said in a post from its official newsroom account on X. OpenAI says it does not endorse Robinhood’s effort, nor was it involved in facilitating the token sale. “These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity,” said OpenAI’s newsroom account. “We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity

xAI raises $10B in debt and equity

In Brief Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has raised $10 billion in debt and equity, Morgan Stanley confirmed on Monday. In a post on X, the financial giant said xAI had raised $5 billion in debt and another $5 billion in a separate strategic equity transaction. “The combination of debt and equity reduces the overall cost of capital and substantially expands pools of capital available to xAI. The proceeds will support xAI’s continued development of cutting-edge AI solutions, including one of the

Startup hiring isn’t just about the pitch, it’s about the package — Pulley, 645 Ventures, and Epigram Legal break it down at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Startups live and die by their early hires. And in a world where top talent has options — and stock options — you’ve got to offer more than a ping-pong table and a pitch deck to bring in the right people. At TechCrunch Disrupt’s 20th anniversary, happening on October 27-29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West, we’re digging into the real talk around compensation and equity with a powerhouse panel who’ve seen it all when it comes to scaling. Don’t miss the insights from this panel — and the full Dis

How Private Equity Killed the American Dream

In her new book, Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, journalist and WIRED alum Megan Greenwell chronicles the devastating impacts of one of the most powerful yet poorly understood forces in modern American capitalism. Flush with cash, largely unregulated, and relentlessly focused on profit, private equity firms have quietly reshaped the US economy, taking over large chunks of industries ranging from health care to retail—often leaving financial ruin in their wake. T

Elon Musk’s xAI is reportedly seeking a $4.3B equity raise

In Brief Elon Musk’s startup xAI is trying to raise a $4.3 billion equity investment, according to a report from Bloomberg. This equity funding would be in addition to the $5 billion that Musk is allegedly trying to raise in debt funding for the combined entity of X and xAI. The company appears to be raising money again after landing a $6 billion cash infusion in December, because it has already spent much of its money. xAI makes Grok, the AI chatbot that’s embedded inside the social network