founders' shares

American  

plural noun

Finance.

1. shares of stock given, at least nominally, for consideration to the organizers or original subscribers of a corporation, sometimes carrying special voting privileges, but likely to receive dividends after other classes of stock.

---

founders' shares British  

plural noun

1. shares awarded to the founders of a company and often granting special privileges

---

Etymology

Origin of founders' shares

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The filing reveals that Thiel's founders' shares were among those the company sold to employees at "below fair value."

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2021

And while it didn't mention Thiel or his PayPal co-founders, the report laid out how startup founders' shares could be used to render IRA contribution limits irrelevant.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2021

Although they might own most of the company when it launches, over time, the value of founders’ shares is often reduced by new investors with deeper pockets.

From Nature • Feb. 12, 2019

Though New York Shipbuilding founders' shares soared from $2 to $20 a share this year, Lou Manning denied any open market operations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr. Wharton, upon cause shown, consented to take part in the founding of the Syndicate, and in return for his assistance, was allotted ten founders' shares in the new company.

From Marcella by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.