What Carta’s Data Reveals About the State of Startup Equity
Startup equity has always been one of the biggest reasons people join early-stage companies. The opportunity to help build something meaningful while sharing in the possible upside can be an intriguing incentive.
But the startup market is constantly changing.
How companies hire, how teams are structured, and how compensation is evolving are all shifting, and for non-founder employees, understanding those changes is becoming more important than ever.
In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, Alicia Thomas sits down with Hamza Shad, Insights Manager at Carta, to explore the data behind startup equity trends and what they mean for employees navigating today’s market.
With access to data across tens of thousands of private companies and around one million startup employees, Hamza brings a unique perspective on what is actually happening inside the startup ecosystem.
Here are some of the key topics they explore:
Tune in to the entire episode
What Carta’s Data Reveals About Startup Compensation
Startup employees often make decisions based on individual experiences, company narratives, or what they hear in the market. But the broader picture can look very different.
Alicia and Hamza discuss why having access to market data matters when evaluating career opportunities, negotiating offers, and understanding and what is changing across startup compensation.
How Equity Trends Are Shifting for Employees
Equity is one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of startup compensation.
In this conversation, Hamza shares insights into how employee equity has evolved, what trends are emerging across different company stages, and why understanding the market context can help employees make more informed decisions.
How AI Is Changing Startup Teams and Compensation
AI is reshaping how startups build, hire, and operate.
The conversation explores how smaller teams, increased productivity, and changing talent demands are influencing compensation trends, and why certain roles are seeing new opportunities in the current market.
Why Staying Informed Matters for Your Career
Startup compensation is not static.
The market continues to evolve, and employees who understand those shifts are better positioned to evaluate opportunities, ask better questions, and negotiate from a stronger position. This episode is about looking beyond assumptions and understanding what the data says about where startup equity is heading.
Listen to the full episode of Non-Founder Crew with Hamza Shad from Carta for a closer look at the trends shaping startup compensation and what every non-founder employee should know.
Tune in to the entire episode