Dave Thornton

Dave Thornton, Co-founder, CEO, and CIO of Vested, dives into the complexities of helping startup employees exercise options. He explains the common challenges faced by employees, particularly the 90-day exercise problem. Thornton discusses Vested's innovative funding model that allows employees to avoid losing shares. He also explores how Vested uses machine learning to assess fair market values of private companies and the importance of diversification in venture capital investments, all while navigating the competitive landscape of employee liquidity programs.

Dave Thornton, Co-founder and CEO of Vested, shares insights from his unique journey bridging entrepreneurship and finance. He discusses the misunderstood dynamics of employee stock options and the critical need for liquidity among startup employees. Vested's innovative data-driven selection model targets the top 20% of venture-backed startups by leveraging proprietary signals and robust backtesting. Thornton also delves into how educational outreach and proactive sourcing can empower employees, all while navigating the complexities of funding and portfolio construction in the venture space.

Dave Thornton, Co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Vested, dives into the intricacies of startup stock options, revealing that a staggering $600 billion in equity goes unclaimed. He explains how Vested empowers employees by offering funding to exercise expiring options. Thornton introduces 'Vestimate', a groundbreaking tool to track equity value and highlights trends in IPOs and venture capital exposure. Plus, he discusses the vital shift towards corporate partnerships to enhance stock option liquidity, making it easier for employees to benefit from their equity.