In the startup world, a cliff is the term used to describe the length of time before either a startup founder or a recipient of stock options first becomes partially vested in their restricted stock or stock options.
A typical cliff is one year, but can be shortened or lengthened as appropriate to the startup’s situation. For example, if a startup founder vests his or her shares over 2 years, but has a 1 year cliff, the startup founder would be 0% vested in his or her shares up until the end of the year period.
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