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 informationCheck our website: https://www.optioincentives.com/stock-n-rollFollow Optio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optio-incentivesRead the blog: https://www.optioincentives.com/resource-hub/designing-equity-programs-for-pre-ipo-growth-companiesMessage us here 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.