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Reality check on offer at pre-seed company [I will not promote]
4.5 months in as a contractor at a French pre-seed company. I have a PhD, high-impact publications. Negotiating permanent position transition. **The offer:** * €80,000 gross * 6% fully diluted, 4-year vest, 1-year cliff backdated to January 2026 **The situation:** * I've been doing founding team level work: core product architecture, client delivery, product design decisions, academic collaboration involvement, intern management, backend technical work outside my defined scope, travel * Original contractor equity (\~0.5%) was verbally agreed in January. Still unsigned 4.5 months later. They are trying to say that the deal they are giving me w/ the 6% is "better", but something about going back on a former agreement feels off given I started early (without the formal write-up) with the assumption that it will be handled properly (stupid me) * Being scheduled into future work as if I've already signed. I haven't * Commercial traction is unclear... pilots running, seed fundraising in progress but without "amazing" results, timeline uncertain * CEO argues I'm not taking founder risk. My counter-argument: the opportunity cost of being here vs some other company or starting my own is real **Specific questions:** 1. Is 6% reasonable for this profile and scope at pre-seed or should I push harder? 2. Is €80,000 reasonable for Head of AI + Principal Scientist? I'm seeing €95k-€115k as market rate 3. Equity deal unsigned after 4.5 months... normal pre-seed disorganization or red flag? Looking for perspective from people who've been here.
The startup possesses strong technical foundations with a PhD-led AI architecture, but is currently undermined by significant management red flags and weak fundraising momentum. While the 6% equity offer is generous for a non-founder, the 4.5-month delay in documentation and below-market salary suggest a high risk of founder conflict and capitalization instability.