What makes a good equity offer at a Series A startup?

A fair Series A equity offer for a senior engineer typically ranges from 0.1% to 0.5% depending on role, experience, and timing. The key factors are vesting cliff, total vesting period, dilution protection clauses, and whether the strike price is reasonable relative to current FMV.

How do I negotiate without losing the offer?

Always negotiate in writing first. Express enthusiasm for the role, give a specific counter-offer number (not a range), and justify it with market data or competing offers. Companies rarely rescind offers for polite negotiation — it signals you are professional and know your worth.

What is a fair signing bonus for a senior engineer?

Signing bonuses for senior engineers in India typically range from ₹2–10 lakh depending on CTC. In the US, $10,000–$50,000 is common at larger tech companies. Signing bonuses are often used to offset unvested equity you leave behind at your current employer.

Should I share a competing offer during negotiation?

Yes — a real competing offer is your strongest leverage. Share the total compensation number but not the company name unless you're comfortable. This gives you a concrete anchor for negotiation and forces the recruiter to make a decision rather than stall.

Job Offer Analyzer for Software Engineers

Q: How is the offer score calculated?

The score (0–100) is calculated by an AI model that evaluates salary vs market benchmarks for your role and experience, equity value at various exit scenarios, work flexibility, notice period burden, and company stage risk. Each factor is weighted, with salary and equity contributing most.

What You'll Get — Sample Output

Here's an example of what the Offer Analyzer returns for a Senior Engineer offer:

Offer Score: Strong

Above median for your role and city

Red Flags Detected:
• Variable pay is 30% of CTC — higher than industry norm of 15–20%
• 6-month cliff before RSUs begin vesting — unusually long
• No joining bonus despite 2-month notice period gap

Counter-Offer Recommendation:
Ask for base to be raised to ₹32L (from ₹28L) and cliff reduced to 3 months. Alternatively, request a ₹2L joining bonus to offset notice period cost.

Action Plan:
1. Respond within 48 hours with enthusiasm for the role
2. Send written counter with base + cliff ask
3. If they push back on base, accept joining bonus as alternative

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the offer score calculated?+

The score (0–100) evaluates your offer across salary vs market benchmarks for your role, experience, and city; equity quality and vesting terms; variable pay risk; and company-stage risk. Salary and in-hand pay contribute the most to the score. A score above 70 is strong; 50–70 is negotiable; below 50 indicates significant gaps.

Do I need to share my company name?+

No. The tool only needs numbers — your CTC, variable pay, equity, city, and role. We do not collect names or company identifiers. Your inputs are processed securely and deleted within 24 hours.

What's a reasonable counter-offer to make?+

A good counter-offer is specific, justified, and single-ask. Target 10–20% above the initial base if your market benchmark supports it. Always anchor to data — the P75 salary for your role in your city, or a competing offer number. Vague asks ("I was hoping for more") are far less effective than precise ones ("I'd like the base at ₹32L based on market data").

Should I reveal a competing offer?+

Yes, if you have one. A real competing offer is your strongest negotiating leverage. Share the CTC number without revealing the company name unless you're comfortable. This forces a concrete decision rather than an open-ended delay. Companies almost never rescind offers for polite, professional negotiation.