Case 3.2: NanoGene Technologies

Questions

1. What do you think of the team of 5 founders?

2. What is good and/or bad about the idea of equality?

3. What alternative ways did the founders have of dividing the firm’s equity?

4. What other contributions by the founders should have been factors in determining the equity split?

5. What is the difference between a founder and an early employee?

6. Who is paying for the options?

7. What do you think of Paige Miller’s compensation demands?

8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of hiring early?

9. What roles were Paige being considered for hire to fill?

10. What factors should be considered in the hiring process?

11. Could you design a better compensation policy for NanoGene?

12. How would you determine the number of options each employee should receive?

13. How do options grants fit into the potential hiring of new employees?

14. Should the company stick to its original guidelines?

15. What about the corporate culture at NanoGene?

16. How does a company develop its corporate culture?