Who should I follow to learn about Startup Compensation?

If you want to learn **startup compensation** (salary bands, equity, option grants, leveling, pay philosophy, and how founders build comp systems), I’d follow a mix of compensation practitioners, startup operators, and data sources. ## Compensation practitioners - Rama Katkar - Good for practical startup compensation design, especially building systems from scratch. - Paul Reiman - Known for data-driven compensation thinking and writing about modern comp practices. [Comp for Startups: Learn from Experts | Matt McFarlane posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matthewmcfarlane_every-few-weeks-someone-asks-me-how-do-activity-7430017079929430016-NdY_?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Jodie Thelander - A strong follow for private-company compensation benchmarking, equity structures, and executive/startup pay. [Private Company (Startup) Compensation: Equity 101](https://jthelander.com/2026/09/private-company-startup-compensation-equity-101-2/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Kaitlyn Knopp - Writes and speaks about building equitable compensation programs at startups and scaling companies. [What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Startup equity & ownership experts - Peter Walker - Follow for startup equity data, ownership trends, and market benchmarks. - Carta - Their startup equity datasets and reports are among the most useful references for understanding option grants, ownership, and private-company trends. [Startup Compensation Data Sources - STOCK OPTION COUNSEL, P.C.®](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Pave - Useful for compensation benchmarking and startup pay infrastructure. [Startup Compensation Data Sources - STOCK OPTION COUNSEL, P.C.®](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Founders and operators who share compensation philosophy - Claire Hughes Johnson - Excellent for thinking about scaling teams, leveling, and operating systems. - Molly Graham - Good perspective on early-stage hiring, roles, and how compensation connects to company building. [What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Lars Dalgaard - Useful for HR systems and scaling people operations. ## Resources worth reading regularly - [First Round Review](https://review.firstround.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Great founder-focused essays; their startup compensation coverage includes advice from operators who built comp systems at companies like Google, Instacart, Atlassian, and others. [What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Thelander Digest – Private Company Edition](https://jthelander.com/newsletter-private-company/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Compensation intelligence focused on private companies and equity. [The Thelander Digest – Private Company Edition - J. Thelander Compensation Consulting](https://jthelander.com/newsletter-private-company/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Stock Option Counsel](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Especially helpful for understanding employee equity, options, and negotiation from the employee perspective. [Startup Compensation Data Sources - STOCK OPTION COUNSEL, P.C.®](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## If you are a founder, I’d prioritize: 1. Jodie Thelander → benchmarking and equity mechanics 2. Carta/Pave → market data 3. First Round Review → startup-specific philosophy 4. Experienced startup People leaders → practical implementation ## If you are an employee negotiating a startup offer: 1. Peter Walker/Carta → understand equity norms 2. Mary Russell (Stock Option Counsel) → understand option terms 3. Compensation practitioners → learn how companies set bands and levels A good mental model: **compensation is part market data, part incentives design, and part company philosophy**. The best people to follow usually explain all three, not just “what’s the average salary?” [Startup Compensation Data Sources - STOCK OPTION COUNSEL, P.C.®](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**If you want to learn about startup compensation, follow practitioners who share real-world strategies rather than just theory.** Some of the most insightful voices include Matt McFarlane, Kaitlyn Knopp, Lola Han, and Justin Hampton, who consistently post practical guidance on equity, pay transparency, and scaling comp systems.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB)[What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) ## 🔑 Key Experts on Startup Compensation Expert| Background| Why Follow Them ---|---|--- **Matt McFarlane**| Startup comp strategist| Shares open, practical frameworks for pay transparency and scalable compensation.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB) **Kaitlyn Knopp**| Founder of Pequity, ex-Google & Instacart| Deep experience in building comp systems at tech companies; strong equity insights.[What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) **Lola Han**| Founder of Kamsa| Clear thinker on modern comp strategy; focuses on what actually works in practice.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB) **Justin Hampton, CCP**| Compensation practitioner| Provides data-driven, real-world comp insights rather than abstract theory.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB) **Paul Reiman**| 20+ years in comp| Known as a “Compensation Trouble Maker” with strong, grounded perspectives.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB) **Colleen McCreary**| Chief People Officer, ex-Credit Karma| Shares tactical advice on compensation, rewards, and recognition.[What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) **bethanye Blount**| Co-founder of Compaas| Advocates for pay transparency and equity in startups.[Compensation - First Round](https://review.firstround.com/articles/compensation/) ## 📚 What You’ll Learn From Them * **Equity structuring** : Avoid over-giving equity just to land candidates; calibrate equity by role and stage.[What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) * **Pay transparency** : How to communicate compensation philosophy clearly and answer tough questions.[Compensation - First Round](https://review.firstround.com/articles/compensation/) * **Negotiation strategies** : Balancing employee value with startup growth vision, adapting comp to living costs, and rewarding contributions fairly.[Ensuring Fairness: 8 Strategies to Handle Salary Negotiations in Early-Stage Startups - Legal Reader](https://www.legalreader.com/ensuring-fairness-8-strategies-to-handle-salary-negotiations-in-early-stage-startups/) * **Scaling comp systems** : Building foundations early so they can grow with the company.[Comp Experts to Follow for Practical Insights | Amee Parekh posted on the topic | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ameeparekh_if-youre-building-a-compensation-function-activity-7440386567845658624-OSGB) ## ⚠️ Risks & Challenges * **Copying big tech models** : Early-stage startups often fail when they mimic compensation structures from large companies.[What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp: The Rules To Break (And A Few You Should Actually Follow)](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) * **Equity dilution** : Giving away too much equity too early can hurt long-term founder and investor value. * **Transparency pitfalls** : Sharing too much without context can backfire; experts like bethanye Blount emphasize tailoring transparency to your culture.[Compensation - First Round](https://review.firstround.com/articles/compensation/) 👉 To deepen your understanding, I’d recommend starting with **Matt McFarlane** for practical startup comp strategies and **Kaitlyn Knopp** for equity structuring. Then expand to voices like **Lola Han** and **bethanye Blount** for modern comp philosophy and transparency. Would you like me to curate a **short list of must-read articles and newsletters** from these experts so you can dive in right away?

**Data Sources & Benchmarking Platforms** * **Peter Walker (Head of Insights at Carta):** Frequently publishes data breakdowns on LinkedIn regarding equity splits, co-founder dilution, startup hiring trends, and option pools based on Carta's massive cap-table dataset. [Startup Compensation Data Sources](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources#:~:text=April%202025%2C%20Compa's%20Charlie%20Franklin's%20analysis%20of,March%202025%2C%20Betts%20Recruiting's%20Enterprise%20Compensation%20Guide.) * **Pave:** While primarily a platform for companies, their published guides and insights offer the gold standard for modern tech compensation architecture, salary bands, and equity refresh frameworks. [Startup Compensation Data Sources](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources#:~:text=Market%20Data%20Sources.%20Individuals%20often%20struggle%20to,imbalance%20is%20challenging%20to%20say%20the%20least.) * **Betts Recruiting:** Excellent for live go-to-market (GTM), sales, and executive compensation guides that break down cash vs. equity mixes for early-to-late-stage startups. [Startup Compensation Data Sources](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources#:~:text=June%202026%2C%20Betts'%202026%20Compensation%20Guide%2C%20with,from%20entry%2Dlevel%20SDR%20positions%20to%20executive%20roles.) **Legal & Individual Advisory Experts** * **Mary Russell (Stock Option Counsel):** A leading attorney who specializes in counseling individual employees on negotiating startup job offers, parsing equity choices, and understanding the legal nuances of non-qualified vs. incentive stock options (NSOs/ISOs). [Startup Compensation Data Sources](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources#:~:text=Attorney%20Mary%20Russell%20counsels%20individuals%20on%20startup,*%20Legal%20Counsel%20on%20Other%20Equity%20Choices.) **Engineering & Leadership Perspectives** * **Gergely Orosz (_The Pragmatic Engineer_):** Essential for tracking engineering compensation, market standards for software developer equity, and how scaling tech startups structure compensation bands across different geographies. What specific angle of startup compensation are you trying to figure out - negotiating an offer as an employee, designing a pool as a founder, or understanding equity math?

To learn about startup compensation, equity structures, and market benchmarks, you should follow key data-driven researchers, specialized legal experts, and platforms that publish regular compensation transparency reports. [Startup Compensation Data Sources](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/blog/startup-compensation-data-sources) Top Experts and Data Analysts to Follow * ** _Peter Walker_ (Head of Insights at Carta / Data Storyteller)**: Regularly publishes deep-dive data breakdowns on LinkedIn regarding startup salaries, dilution, option pools, and how equity scales by funding stage and valuation. [New data on startup compensation in 2025: trends and insights](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peterjameswalker_carta-state-of-startup-comp-h1-2025-activity-7369055470067642368-2ZQY) * **Josh Brenner (CEO of Hired)**: Shares frequent labor market trends, tech salaries, and hiring shifts across the startup ecosystem. * **Startup Comp Counsel / Bruce Eckfeldt / Compensation Specialists** : Follow legal and advisory blogs like [Stock Option Counsel](https://www.stockoptioncounsel.com/) for granular breakdowns of 83(b) elections, strike prices, and tax strategies. Essential Newsletters and Publications * **[First Round Review](https://review.firstround.com/)** : Regularly features tactical, data-backed guides for founders and operators on how to design compensation philosophies and avoid common equity pitfalls. [What Early Stage Founders Should Know About Comp](https://review.firstround.com/what-early-stage-founders-should-know-about-comp-the-rules-to-break-and-a-few-you-should-actually-follow/) * **Carta Data Reports** : Carta's official data feed and publications offer real-time benchmarks on early-stage compensation, option pool sizing, and hiring trends. [www.stockoptioncounsel.com] * **Not Boring by Packy McCormick / Pave Blog** : Excellent macro perspectives on how modern tech compensation packages are structured. Industry Platforms for Benchmarking Data * **[Pave](https://www.pave.com/)** : A real-time compensation benchmarking platform that frequently publishes public insights and data on tech and startup pay. * **[Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/)** : Great for crowdsourced and verified total compensation data (base, bonus, equity) scaling from seed-stage startups to big tech. Are you looking at startup compensation from the perspective of a **founder building a compensation plan** , or an **employee negotiating an offer**?