Real-World Scenarios & Access

How much equity should I give a startup advisor?

A starting point

For most early-stage advisors, think in tenths and quarters of a percent, roughly 0.25% to 1%, vesting over ~2 years, scaled to how deeply they engage and how mature your company is. Don't negotiate this from scratch; use the FAST Agreement, the industry-standard template that maps engagement level and company stage to a number. Cash-poor startups pay in equity, but never give a meaningful slice for a name on a slide.

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The FAST Agreement (Founder / Advisor Standard Template)

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

Why we picked it

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.

  • 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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