Designing Equity Programs for Pre-IPO Growth Companies with Dirk Besse

This episode tackles the fascinating world of pre-IPO equity programs and the infamous "pina colada threat" - when your key talent cashes out post-IPO and heads straight to retirement.

We're joined by special guest Dirk Besse, a seasoned lawyer from Morrison & Foerster, who shares invaluable insights on designing equity incentives that balance employee motivation with long-term company growth, particularly in Germany and across Europe.

Whether you're a founder preparing for an exit, an executive designing retention strategies, or an employee navigating your own equity package, this episode offers practical wisdom for the entire pre-IPO journey. 

For more information
Check our website: https://www.optioincentives.com/stock-n-roll
Follow Optio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optio-incentives
Read the blog: https://www.optioincentives.com/resource-hub/designing-equity-programs-for-pre-ipo-growth-companies

Join Stock 'N Roll with Christoffer Herheim, CEO and co-founder of Optio, as we break down what works—and what doesn’t—in equity compensation, with insights you can act on.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Stuck and Roll Podcast
• 1:06 Meet Dirk Besse
• 1:48 Pre-IPO Planning and Share Plans
• 3:49 Challenges in German Equity Programs
• 5:47 Performance Programs and Incentives
• 8:38 Exit Strategies and Change of Control
• 20:00 Tax Implications and Dry Income
• 22:24 German Future Financing Act
• 29:19 Final Thoughts and Conclusion