--- title: "Fund/Build/Scale: What Your CEO Won't Tell You About Your Stock Options" description: In the latest Fund/Build/Scale episode, Phil Haslett, Co-Founder of EquityZen, joins Walter Thompson to break down how the Secondary Market works, the risks & rewards of selling equity, and how founders can use their equity to bootstrap future ventures. image: https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/unnamed-Apr-13-2025-12-56-02-2021-AM.png --- [![EquityZen](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/equityzen-logo.svg "EquityZen")](https://equityzen.com/) - [Investments](https://equityzen.com/explore/) - [Explore](https://equityzen.com/explore-private-market/) - How it Works - [Investors](https://equityzen.com/investor/) - [Shareholders](https://equityzen.com/shareholder/) - [Institutions](https://equityzen.com/institutions/) - [Issuers](https://equityzen.com/issuers/) - [Financial Advisors](https://equityzen.com/financial-advisors/) - [Insights](https://blog.equityzen.com/) - [Login](https://equityzen.com/accounts/login/) - [Sign Up](https://equityzen.com/accounts/register/) [Back to insights](https://blog.equityzen.com) [Shareholder Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholder-education) [Podcasts](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/podcasts) # Fund/Build/Scale: What Your CEO Won't Tell You About Your Stock Options ![EquityZen](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image%20(5).png?width=96&height=96&name=image%20(5).png) Written by EquityZen • April 13, 2025 • 1 min read ![Fund/Build/Scale: What Your CEO Won't Tell You About Your Stock Options](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/unnamed-Apr-13-2025-12-56-02-2021-AM.png?width=1318&height=736&name=unnamed-Apr-13-2025-12-56-02-2021-AM.png) In this article Like this article? In the latest episode of the *Fund/Build/Scale* podcast, EquityZen Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Phil Haslett, sits down with host Walter Thompson to explore the ins and outs of the secondary market.  If you’re a startup employee with vested stock options and seeking liquidity, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to discover: - How the [secondary market](https://blog.equityzen.com/prosandconsofsellingpreipostock) functions - The risks and rewards of selling equity - How aspiring founders can utilize the secondary market to bootstrap their startups Whether you're looking to unlock the value of your stock options or interested in learning more about how the secondary market can help fuel a growing business, this conversation has something for you. Check out the full episode “What Your CEO Won’t Tell You About Stock Options” on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-your-ceo-wont-tell-you-about-your-stock-options/id1719488387?i=1000698236531) or [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/10rHKa4MkTm5TiAurE16po?si=CgCXnudaQgyxTcaAikBpAg).  *The information discussed on the podcast is intended for reference only and does not constitute a recommendation or personal financial advice.  Not all pre-IPO companies will go public or be acquired, and not all IPOs or acquisitions are or will become successful investments. There are inherent risks in pre-IPO investments, including the risk of loss of the entire investment, illiquidity, and fluctuations in value and returns. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment.* Join Investors and Shareholders Exploring the Private Markets Today [![Get Started](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20754585/8e691282-6ef2-4809-87ba-5604efc0edbe.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20754585/8e691282-6ef2-4809-87ba-5604efc0edbe) ### Related Articles ![The New York Times: The Tech IPO Comes Roaring Back in the Pandemic](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.31.36%20AM.png?width=812&height=446&name=Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.31.36%20AM.png) ##### The New York Times: The Tech IPO Comes Roaring Back in the Pandemic EquityZen Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder, Phil Haslett, discusses the resurgent 2020 IPO marke... In the News <1 min read ![What is a 409A Valuation?](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen%20409A%20Considerations.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen%20409A%20Considerations.jpg) ##### What is a 409A Valuation? Founders & employees should familiarize themselves with 409A valuations as they play a key role in h... Shareholder Education 6 min read ![From Entrepreneurial Economy to Investment Opportunity](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_539405500.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_539405500.jpg) ##### From Entrepreneurial Economy to Investment Opportunity Explore how self-directed investors can align their portfolios with entrepreneurship and innovation,... Market Views 8 min read #### The Potential to Shape the Future Join over 700,000 investors and shareholders accessing the private markets with EquityZen [![Get Started](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828) #### Company - [About](https://equityzen.com/about/) - [Careers](https://equityzen.com/careers/) - [Press](https://equityzen.com/press/) #### Policies & Disclosures - [Disclosures](https://equityzen.com/disclosures/) - [Business Continuity Plan](https://equityzen.com/bcp/) - [Privacy Policy](https://equityzen.com/privacy/) - [Allocation Policy](https://equityzen.com/allocation-policy/) - [Form CRS](https://equityzen.com/form-crs/) #### Help - [Help Center](https://help.equityzen.com/en/) - [Getting Started](https://help.equityzen.com/en/collections/5549447-getting-started) - [Status Page](https://status.equityzen.com/) #### Connect - [![Facebook](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/EquityZen) - [![Instagram](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/instagram-1.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/equityzen_/) - [![Vector (8)](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/Vector%20(8).svg)](https://twitter.com/EquityZen) - [![Linked In](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/equityzen) Investment opportunities posted on this website are "private placements" of securities that are not publicly traded, are subject to holding period requirements, and are intended for investors who do not need a liquid investment. Investing in private companies may be considered highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of substantial loss of investment. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment. See [our Risk Factors](https://equityzen.com/risk-factors/) for a more detailed explanation of the risks involved by investing through EquityZen’s platform.   EquityZen Securities LLC (“EquityZen Securities”) is a subsidiary of EquityZen Inc. EquityZen Securities is a broker/dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is a [FINRA](http://www.finra.org/)/[SIPC](https://www.sipc.org/) member firm.   Equity securities are offered through EquityZen Securities. Check the background of this firm on [FINRA’s BrokerCheck](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/281820).   EquityZen Inc. was awarded a 2024 Fintech Breakthrough Award by Tech Breakthrough LLC on March 19, 2025, based on the prior year and covering calendar year 2024, and has compensated FinTech Breakthrough LLC for use of its name and logo in connection with the award. FinTech Breakthrough LLC is a third party and has no affiliation with EquityZen.   EquityZen created the ticker symbols referenced on this page for use solely on the EquityZen platform. They do not refer to any publicly traded stock. EquityZen does not have an affiliation with, formal relationship with, or endorsement from any of the companies featured and none of the statements on the site should be attributed to those companies.   “Market Activity” and other transactional data displayed on this website is compiled by EquityZen and is confidential and historical in nature. Unauthorized use, distribution or reproduction is prohibited. Transactional information does not guarantee future investment results. EquityZen cannot guarantee finding or approving a transaction at any displayed price.   EquityZen.com is a website operated by EquityZen Inc. ("EquityZen"). By accessing this site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by our [Terms of Use](https://equityzen.com/terms/). EquityZen and logo are trademarks of EquityZen Inc. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2026 EquityZen. All rights reserved. EquityZen 1 New York Plaza 12th floor New York, NY 10004 [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/equityzen.com) [![Secured via DigiCert Extended Validation certificate](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/digicert-site-seal.png)](https://seal.digicert.com/seals/popup/?tag=eoBY_h-N&url=equityzen.com&lang=en_US&cbr=1411486682292) [![FINRA's BrokerCheck](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/broker-check.png)](https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/281820) [![SIPC](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/image/common/sipc.png)![FinTech Breakthrough Award](https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/assets/equityzen/img/fintech-award.png)](https://www.sipc.org/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "EquityZen", "url" : "https://blog.equityzen.com/author/equityzen" }, "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T16:53:36.093Z", "datePublished" : "2025-04-13T00:57:13.000Z", "headline" : "Fund/Build/Scale: What Your CEO Won't Tell You About Your Stock Options", "image" : [ "https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/unnamed-Apr-13-2025-12-56-02-2021-AM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.equityzen.com/fund/build/scale-what-your-ceo-wont-tell-you-about-your-stock-options", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/EZ_logo_h_color-bk_RGB-1.png" }, "name" : "EquityZen, Inc." } } ```