--- title: EquityZen Blog - Private Market Insights | Shareholders (5) description: Shareholders | The EquityZen Blog is the hub for private market insights. Whether you want to buy or sell pre-IPO shares, EquityZen is the marketplace for accessing pre-IPO equity. Learn more at EquityZen.com. (5) --- [![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) # Shareholders [Market Views](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/market-views) [In the News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/in-the-news) [Investor Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-education) [Investor Basics](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics) [IPO News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/ipo-news) [From Our Founders](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/from-our-founders) [Shareholder Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholder-education) [Company News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/company-news) [Video](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/video) [Podcasts](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/podcasts) [Getting Started](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/getting-started) [Product Updates](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/product-updates) [Investor Advanced](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-advanced) [Financial Advisors](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/financial-advisors) [Awards](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/awards) [Monthly Movers](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/monthly-movers) ![EquityZen guide to exercising options with out cash with beach view](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_Blog_Exercising%20without%20Cash.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_Blog_Exercising%20without%20Cash.jpg) ##### How to Exercise Stock Options Without Cash: A Smoother Path to Liquidity Here we discuss two methods by which a vested option holder can exercise stock options without the n... Shareholders 5 min read ![Financial Times: A Q&A with EquityZen’s Co-Founder](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.29.40%20AM.png?width=812&height=446&name=Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.29.40%20AM.png) ##### Financial Times: A Q&A with EquityZen’s Co-Founder Phil Haslett, co-founder of EquityZen talks with the Financial Times about how equity rout in the te... Shareholders \<1 min read ![What is the Private Secondary Market?](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_400874485.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_400874485.jpg) ##### What is the Private Secondary Market? A secondary market is one in which investors trade existing shares of a company. The proceeds from t... Shareholders 4 min read ![EquityZen blog about vesting schedule with green trees in woods](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_Blog_Vesting_Schedule.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_Blog_Vesting_Schedule.jpg) ##### Revisiting the Vesting Schedule A look at the typical employee stock option vesting schedule and equity compensation considerations ... Shareholders 3 min read ![TechCrunch: What is a 409-A?](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TechCrunch-89decb68977f72be-1.png?width=812&height=446&name=TechCrunch-89decb68977f72be-1.png) ##### TechCrunch: What is a 409-A? Why tech companies might want a lower valuation and what this means for startup employees. Shareholders \<1 min read ![Benefits of Pre-IPO Liquidity for Employees: What to Know](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pre-IPO%20liquidity%20with%20waterfront%20house%20surrounded%20by%20trees.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=Pre-IPO%20liquidity%20with%20waterfront%20house%20surrounded%20by%20trees.jpg) ##### Benefits of Pre-IPO Liquidity for Employees: What to Know As companies are staying private longer the need for pre-IPO liquidity has become increasingly impor... Shareholders 4 min read ![The Economist: After a fat year, tech startups are bracing for lean times](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.12.01%20AM.png?width=812&height=446&name=Screen%20Shot%202023-03-23%20at%2011.12.01%20AM.png) ##### The Economist: After a fat year, tech startups are bracing for lean times The pandemic put a premium on all things digital. Now tech stocks have hit a rough patch. Phil Hasle... Shareholders \<1 min read ![EquityZen Guide to understanding RSUs with man working on laptop](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_Blog_RSUs.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_Blog_RSUs.jpg) ##### Guide to Understanding RSUs for Start-up Employees EquityZen ticks through the most important things you should know about RSUs, options and equity com... Shareholders 4 min read ![TechCrunch: EquityZen's Phil Haslett On How Startup Valuations Can Regain Their Moxie](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TechCrunch-89decb68977f72be-1.png?width=812&height=446&name=TechCrunch-89decb68977f72be-1.png) ##### TechCrunch: EquityZen's Phil Haslett On How Startup Valuations Can Regain Their Moxie Later-stage startup market dynamics may shift favorably. Phil Haslett, EquityZen's co-founder and ch... Shareholders \<1 min read [Prev](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/4) [2](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/2) [3](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/3) [4](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/4) [5](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/5) [6](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/6) [Next](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholders/page/6) #### 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/)