--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think as a rough estimate, you should…" description: "\"I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png" --- # I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about… ![“I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png) > “I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.” [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests allocating a modest equity share to early team members to motivate and reward them. **In simple terms:** Give early staff about 10% equity. Key Takeaway Reward early contributors. Themes startup equity team incentives fairness Mood practical strategic Type advice business When to use this quote - early hiring - seed funding - talent retention - investment negotiations Key Concepts founder‑employee relations ownership structures Questions to Reflect On - How much equity is appropriate for early hires? - What impact does equity have on loyalty? A Different Perspective Equity dilution may affect future fundraising. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“I am approximately 96.694444% in love with you. Of course, that’s just a rough estimate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-approximately-96-694444-in-love-with-you-of-course-that-s-just-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [No batch of 10 people will have as much an influence on the company as those first 10 people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collison/no-batch-of-10-people-will-have-as-much-an-influence-on-the-company/) [John Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collison/) > [You can't come in and value your company at $10 billion if you don't have any sales, or you don't have anything to justify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-wagner/you-can-t-come-in-and-value-your-company-at-10-billion-if-you-don-t/) [Bobby Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-wagner/) > [... fire fast when it's not working. It's better for the company, it's also better for the employee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/fire-fast-when-it-s-not-working-it-s-better-for-the-company-it-s-also/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [As you grow, the productivity I think, goes down with the square of the number of employees if you don't make an effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/as-you-grow-the-productivity-i-think-goes-down-with-the-square-of-the/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [We've seen a lot of data at YC now, and the most successful companies and the ones where the investors do the best... end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/we-ve-seen-a-lot-of-data-at-yc-now-and-the-most-successful-companies/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Companies that I've been very involved with, that have had a very bad first hire in the first 3 or so employees never recover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/companies-that-i-ve-been-very-involved-with-that-have-had-a-very-bad/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Founders are usually very stingy with equity to employees and very generous with equity to investors. I think this is totally backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/founders-are-usually-very-stingy-with-equity-to-employees-and-very/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Most great companies in tech have been built by personal referrals for the first...at least 100 employees and often many more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/most-great-companies-in-tech-have-been-built-by-personal-referrals/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [For early employees you want people that have somewhat of a risk-taking attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/for-early-employees-you-want-people-that-have-somewhat-of-a-risk/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Just put a little pin in your mind: when you cross 50 employees, there are a new set of HR rules that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/just-put-a-little-pin-in-your-mind-when-you-cross-50-employees-there/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [AirBnB spent 5 months interviewing their first employee, before they hired someone and in their first year, they only hired 2 people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/airbnb-spent-5-months-interviewing-their-first-employee-before-they/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Employees will only add more value over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/employees-will-only-add-more-value-over-time/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [“We, of all the beings that we know of, can think. We can eat, write, build, save. We can predict, estimate, and count. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarun-betala/we-of-all-the-beings-that-we-know-of-can-think-we-can-eat-write-build/) [Tarun Betala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarun-betala/) > [The average estimate themselves by what they do, the above average by what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-average-estimate-themselves-by-what-they-do-the-above-average-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sam Altman > [The best people know that they should join a rocketship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-best-people-know-that-they-should-join-a-rocketship/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-really-want-to-know-your-cofounders-for-a-while-ideally-years/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Employees will only add more value over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/employees-will-only-add-more-value-over-time/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One thing I tell startups all the time is that the best way to grow is to make their product better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-thing-i-tell-startups-all-the-time-is-that-the-best-way-to-grow/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [A winning team feels good and keeps winning. A team that hasn't won in a while gets demotivated and keeps losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/a-winning-team-feels-good-and-keeps-winning-a-team-that-hasn-t-won-in/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You're either not hiring at all or it's probably your single biggest block of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-re-either-not-hiring-at-all-or-it-s-probably-your-single-biggest/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [The thing that kills startups at some level, is the founders giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-thing-that-kills-startups-at-some-level-is-the-founders-giving-up/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Execution gets divided into two key questions: 1) can you figure out what to do and 2) can you get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/execution-gets-divided-into-two-key-questions-1-can-you-figure-out/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [If you want something in a deal, just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-want-something-in-a-deal-just-ask-for-it/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Most things are not as risky as they seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/most-things-are-not-as-risky-as-they-seem/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [I prefer to invest in a company that's going after a small but rapidly growing market than a big but slow growing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-prefer-to-invest-in-a-company-that-s-going-after-a-small-but/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are not the best choice for work-life balance, and that's sort of just the sad reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-not-the-best-choice-for-work-life-balance-and-that-s/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the biggest advantages that start ups have is execution speed and you have to have this relentless operating rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-biggest-advantages-that-start-ups-have-is-execution-speed/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the keys to focus, and why I said cofounders that aren't friends really struggle, is that you can't be focused without good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-keys-to-focus-and-why-i-said-cofounders-that-aren-t/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are very hard no matter what you do; you may as well go after a big opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-very-hard-no-matter-what-you-do-you-may-as-well-go-after/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) [Explore all 235 Sam Altman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Altman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-aim-to-give-about-10-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-aim-to-give-about-10-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/sam-altman-1494_aim_i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-a_3077711.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.” — Sam Altman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Altman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think as a rough estimate,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-aim-to-give-about-10-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-think-as-a-rough-estimate-you-should-aim-to-give-about-10-of-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```