Employee Stock Option Plan

The Employee Stock Option Plan (or ESOP) is the program and legal framework a company uses to grant equity incentives (typically options) to employees, including the plan document, grant agreements, and administration rules. Employee Stock Option Plan design impacts hiring competitiveness and dilution planning, and Employee Stock Option Plan terms are frequently reviewed in VC diligence.

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Ryan Roberts Startup Lawyer
Ryan Roberts is a startup lawyer with more than two decades of experience advising on venture financings and M&A transactions totaling more than $1 billion. He is the author of the Amazon bestselling startup law book Acceleration.