What is og-equity-compensation?

This repository is the source for a detailed written guide called The Open Guide to Equity Compensation. Equity compensation means being paid partial ownership in a company, such as stock or stock options, instead of or in addition to a regular salary. The guide explains how this works for employees, job candidates, founders, and hiring managers at US-based private startups and corporations. The subject matter is notoriously hard to understand. Terms like stock options, strike price, ISOs, RSUs, 83(b) election, 409A valuation, and AMT trip up even people who have dealt with equity before. The guide walks through all of them in plain language, covering what each term means, when it matters, and what decisions you may need to make. It also covers the tax consequences that can catch people off guard, including situations where someone owes significant taxes on stock that is not yet worth anything in cash. The guide is aimed at anyone navigating an equity component in a job offer, considering early exercise of options, trying to understand paperwork at a new startup, or facing a company acquisition or IPO. It also helps founders and hiring managers explain equity clearly to candidates without getting things wrong. The authors note that even experienced people regularly run into confusion on this topic. The content was originally written and shared on GitHub and Hacker News before being expanded and published on the Holloway platform, which offers search, bookmarks, highlights, and downloadable formats. The GitHub repository preserves the original open version. The guide does not cover equity in LLCs or S corporations, public company employee stock purchase plans, executive compensation, or compensation outside the United States. The full README is longer than what was shown.