Independent analysis by Gene Dai

AI, work, and hiring.

What companies launch, buy, cut and ask people to do as AI moves into the workplace.

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2026-11-01 16 min read

Carta Finds First Hires Taking 1.75% of Startup Equity

Carta reports a 1.75% median initial grant for first startup hires. The offer also sets a cash salary, leaves room for later hires and gives an employee a risky path to ownership.

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Two paper-cut hands exchange a blank grant above a divided ownership circle under the words First Hire Equity and a small Gene Dai signature. — AI-generated editorial illustration.

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About the author

I'm Gene Dai, co-founder of Metix AI. I write about product, technology and work.