“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Unpacking the Windsurf-Google Deal with Carta's Peter Walker
Jul 15, 2025
Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, dissects the controversial Windsurf deal where Google left non-founder employees without equity payouts. He highlights the growing trend of AI-driven acquisitions that prioritize top talent, often at the cost of broader employee equity. The conversation dives into the ethical dilemmas tech companies face, the disconnect between executive compensation and that of average workers, and the need for transparency in equity negotiations. Walker urges a reevaluation of startup dynamics in this new landscape.
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Windsurf Google Acquihire Impact
- Google acquihired Windsurf's founders and key researchers for $2.4 billion, but left the remaining employees with the original company.
- Most employees with unvested equity received no acceleration or payout, breaking Silicon Valley's norm of employee inclusivity in big exits.
Employee Expectations in Big Deals
- It's an unwritten Silicon Valley rule that employees are generally taken care of in large acquisitions.
- The Windsurf Google deal deviated from this norm as the sellers had strong bargaining power but did not protect most employees.
AI Deal Structures Favor Talent
- AI-era deals are trending toward acquiring only top researchers and founders, leaving behind other employees.
- This separation signifies a shift where individual talent value outweighs product or company continuity.