Startup Equity Vesting Calculator
Calculate startup equity vesting schedule — 1-year cliff, 4-year linear, accelerated vesting on acquisition.
| Total grant | — |
| Vesting term | — |
| Cliff | — |
| Months served | — |
| Vested portion | — |
| Unvested forfeit if leave today | — |
| Acceleration impact | — |
Standard startup equity vesting: 4-year linear with a 1-year cliff. No equity vests until month 12; thereafter monthly. Acceleration clauses determine what happens in acquisitions and termination.
How Vesting Works
Total grant divided into time-based vests. Standard schedule: 4-year total, 1-year cliff (25% vests at month 12 lump), then monthly thereafter (1/48 per month). Leave before month 12 = forfeit everything. Leave month 24 = retain 50%.
Cliff Period
1-year cliff is standard founder protection — ensures the employee/founder stays at least a year. Some startups use 6-month cliffs for senior hires or 3-month for advisors. Cliff = 'all-or-nothing' point.
Acceleration Triggers
Single trigger: 100% (or %) vests on acquisition automatically. Double trigger: vests only IF acquisition AND involuntary termination. Most VCs prefer double trigger (retain talent in acquihires); founders prefer single trigger.
Equity Refresh Grants
After year 3-4, top performers often get refresh grants (another 4-year vesting schedule) to retain post-vest. Common at scale: 25-50% of original grant size every 2-3 years for high performers.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: Carta Equity Guide, IRS Stock Options.