Startup Advisors Are Receiving Less Equity Over Time

Startup Advisors Are Receiving Less Equity Over Time

Author

Peter Walker

|

Read time: 

1 minute

Published date: 

May 9, 2023

Pre-seed advisor median fell from 0.275% to 0.225%, seed from 0.165% to 0.129%—a combination of advisor proliferation, more available advice online, and...

LinkedIn: Startup Advisors Are Receiving Less Equity Over Time

Founders - what you pay your advisors in equity is changing.

Data from tens of thousands of advisor equity grants on Carta below:

Pre-seed

  • Used to be 0.275% per advisor (median)

  • Now it's 0.225%

Seed

  • Used to be 0.165%

  • Now it's 0.129%

Series A

  • Used to be 0.093%

  • Now it's 0.068%

Why are advisors getting less equity?

Combination of factors, but my guesses are:

1. Advising a startup is becoming more professionalized. Crazy high equity grants are becoming less common

2. Equity packages are converging on SF / NY values, which tend to be lower for advisors than less mature ecosystem figures

3. As venture cools, equity is more highly valued by both founders and investors. Keeping a clean cap table has become a higher priority.

Data newsletter link in comments to the best of our Carta data.

Hang in there, startup advisors - we still love you.

#cartadata #advisors #equity #advisorequity #startups #founders

Peter Walker
Author: Peter Walker
Peter Walker runs the Insights team at Carta, focused on discovering key data and narratives across the private capital ecosystem. In a former life, he was a marketing executive for a media analytics startup and led the data visualization team at the Covid Tracking Project.

DISCLOSURE: This communication is on behalf of eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. ("Carta"). This communication is for informational purposes only, and contains general information only. Carta is not, by means of this communication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business or interests, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. This communication is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Carta does not assume any liability for reliance on the information provided herein. © 2026 Carta. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited.