65%
Odsetek ankietowanych Polaków deklarujących korzystanie z narzędzi AI według raportu „E-commerce w Polsce 2026”
IAB Polska2026Poland
A pool of shares set aside to compensate employees with stock options — giving them ownership in the company instead of higher salaries.
Why it matters
Enables hiring talent you can’t afford in cash yet, and aligns employees with the company’s success.
What's missing without it
Without an option pool, it’s hard to compete for top talent against companies paying twice as much.
When it is used
When founding a company and before the first major funding round.
How we use it
Typically 10% of post-investment valuation, with rights vesting over 4 years and a 1-year cliff.
Fun fact
A typical pool is 5–15%. Investors often require it before a round, meaning it dilutes only founders — few notice this on first reading.
Numbers worth knowing
Startups in data
470 000 000 000
IDC Worldwide AI and Generative AI Spending Guide 2026 V2 prognozuje, że europejskie wydatki na AI osiągną blisko 470 mld dolarów do 2030 roku
IDC09/2026Europe
470 000 000 000
Prognozowane całkowite wydatki na AI w Europie w 2030 roku według IDC Worldwide AI and Generative AI Spending Guide 2026 V2
IDC09/2026Europe
Figures from the same field — collected in our market data base.