Investment Firm Bonus Structure
Investment firm bonus structure varies widely across PE and VC firms — and understanding how bonuses are set is critical for attracting and retaining top talent. In case you missed our IF Data Drop last week, we’re expanding on how firms structure bonuses for their investment teams. The first major consideration is whether a bonus […]
Startup Compensation Strategy: A 4-Step Roadmap From Ad Hoc Offers to Defined Bands
Every founder eventually asks the same question about their startup compensation strategy: “Do I need a real compensation strategy or can I wing it?” Here’s a 4-step roadmap for when and how to move from ad hoc offers to defined bands and levels. 1. What is a “real” compensation infrastructure? A compensation infrastructure means building […]
“How big should our option pool be?”
Welcome back to the Thelander Digest. This month, we are digging into one of the most important elements for a startup: the option pool. Whether you’re setting one up for the first time, preparing for your next round of fundraising or rethinking your equity strategy as you scale, getting the option pool right has the long-term […]
What’s the Difference Between Founder Shares and Founder Shares for Current Job at a Startup?
One of our most frequently asked questions is about founder shares — specifically, what’s the difference between founder shares and equity granted for current job?In this week’s PC Data Drop, we’re giving you the answer using a real-time CEO data table pulled directly from the Thelander platform — filtered for companies with $50M–$89.9M in total […]
Bonus Structures: VC Holds Steady While PE Drifts Toward Discretion
What’s driving VC and PE bonus structures in 2026? New data from the Thelander x PitchBook Investment Firm Compensation Survey shows that bonus structures across VC and PE firms remain tilted toward discretionary pay — but the similarity ends there. The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Wall Street’s 2025 bonuses reflect a “gangbusters” year – […]
VC Associate Compensation by Region: Why AUM Matters More Than Geography
VC associate compensation by region varies widely across the U.S., but the biggest driver of total cash might not be what you’d expect. While associates in Tier 1 regions do earn more, the most significant step-up in total cash occurs once firms cross the $1 billion AUM threshold. Using the interactive compensation maps from the […]
How to Have the Compensation Conversation with Your Corporate Parent
CVC compensation is structurally different from corporate pay. Thelander outlines how CVC unit leaders can make the case to HR and corporate parents for competitive investment team compensation.
Carry Dollars at Work: What Every VC Needs to Know
What are carry dollars at work? Thelander data shows how carry dollars at work — the potential dollar value of carried interest at a 2x gross multiple — has shifted across firm sizes and levels since 2023.
AI Pay Premiums in 3 Charts: How To Compensate Top AI Talent
AI Pay Premiums for Software Engineers and Data Scientists: 2026 Data
CMO Compensation at Private Companies: What It Takes to Land a Top Chief Medical Officer
CMO compensation at private companies is climbing as the role becomes one of the most competitive executive searches in life science. What’s a trending role for private life science companies right now? CMOs. Last week, we hosted a Lunch & Learn webinar (video below) with Cissy Young, PhD (楊 詩華), Managing Director True Search, and […]