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Founder Institute (fi.co)

1 resource from Founder Institute (fi.co) we point founders to, and the questions each answers.

🛠️ Tool

✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

This is the canonical, industry-standard answer to 'how much equity for an advisor', a free, ready-to-sign template used by tens of thousands of founders and advisors a year. It replaces awkward negotiation with a simple grid that maps engagement level and company stage to an equity number and vesting schedule.

The FAST Agreement (Founder / Advisor Standard Template)

From Founder Institute (fi.co) by Founder Institute short

Advisor equity is standardized by engagement level (standard / strategic / expert) and company stage, roughly 0.25% to 1%.
The template bakes in vesting (typically ~2 years) so a departing advisor doesn't keep unearned equity.
It removes the need for custom legal drafting: check a few boxes, sign, and start working.
Version 3 (2026) can be localized to jurisdictions beyond the US, including India, without hiring a lawyer.

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Answers Should I set up a formal advisory board, or just keep a few informal advisors? How do I know when an advisor or mentor relationship has run its course, and how do I gracefully end it? How do I evaluate whether a well-known name actually adds value as an advisor or is just borrowing my traction for their portfolio? How much equity should I give a startup advisor? As a solo founder, how much equity should I give the first employee or advisor who is helping me before I can pay a salary? How should I handle equity or contracts for a co-founder, advisor, or contractor sitting in a different country?

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