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A SERVICE FROM

PARK SQUARE
EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Abbreviated Edition

technology

2013

Special Access Code

cs2013tech

Visit www.compstudy.com and register to receive full access

Sponsored By:

www.compstudy.com
Copyright 1999-2013, Park Square Executive Search LLC. All Rights Reserved

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

Founder Compensation and Sponsor Information


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter to the Industry

Demographics 3

On behalf of Park Square Executive Search, EY, WilmerHale, and Professor Noam

USD 1,000s

Cash Compensation

Wasserman of Harvard Business School, Id like to welcome you to the 2013 edition

$350

of our annual Compensation and Entrepreneurship Report in Technology. This

$300

Equity and Severance


CEO Compensation
by Headcount

4
5

Founder Cash Compensation

reportour fourteenth annual and largest to dateincludes summaries and analysis


of compensation data collected from executives at more than 550 private companies

Founder Compensation and


Sponsor Information
7

from across the country in software, hardware, content, clean tech and other

$250

34.9

industries. The survey data for this edition were collected between May and August
of 2013.

$100

17
240.6

72

34.5
19

$200
$150

28

87.5
57

19.3
24

63.4

83.8

19.5

29.6

36.9
9.3

16.3

248.4

257.5
182.8

206.6

191.3

26

51.9

26.3

64.8

30.8

35.3

205.4

192.8
164.7

comparable compensation data to assist them in the critical decisions involved in

$0

174.6

180.8
152.3

CEO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

47.8

199.5

164.7

$50

This survey responds to our clients continuing need for better access to reliable,

18.5

260

Head of
Clinical Research

Head of
Regulatory Affairs

Research &
Develop/CSC

Head of
Platform Tech/CTO

148.7

Head of
Engineering

attracting, motivating and retaining key executives at private companies.


2012 Base Salary

2012 Bonus Received

2012 Unachieved Bonus

2013 Base Salary

2013 Target Bonus

We are able to present correlations between executive compensation and a number


of variables, including: financing stage, company size both in terms of product stage
and headcount, founder/non-founder status, industry segment and geography. We
also provide a number of analytics on Board of Directors compensation and make-

Founder Total Cash

Founder Equity Holdings

Founder CEOs received a more substantial raise than their


non-founder peers: 2.5% vs 0.8%.

On the average, founders of technology companies hold


significantly more equity than their life science peers
largely due to the less capital-intensive nature of most
technology start-ups.

up, company equity plans, and a look at how organizations develop as they raise
additional financing.
This summary document provides only high level excerpts from the detailed analysis
available on-line at www.compstudy.com. Complete access to the data is available

Sponsor Information

free of charge to survey participants and is also available as a paid subscription.

Thanks for reading,

Park Square Executive Search is a


retainer-based executive search firm
located in Cambridge, Massachusetts
and in Menlo Park, California. Park
Square serves clients and institutions
that are changing the world through
discovery, innovation, and growth.

Aaron Lapat
Managing Partner
Park Square Executive Search

www.parksquare.com

EY is a global leader in assurance,


tax, transaction and advisory services.
The insights and quality services
we deliver help build trust and
confidence in the capital markets and
in economies the world over.
We develop outstanding leaders who
team to deliver on our promises to all
of our stakeholders. In so doing, we
play a critical role in building a better
working world for our people, for our
clients and for our communities.

WilmerHale offers unparalleled legal


representation across a comprehensive
range of practice areas that are
critical to the success of our clients.
We practice at the very top of the legal
profession and offer a cutting-edge
blend of capabilities that enables us
to handle deals and cases of any size
and complexity.
www.wilmerhale.com

www.ey.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
7

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

CEO Compensation by Headcount

Demographics

When controlling for other variables, headcount has proven to be the best predictor of non-founder cash
compensation. Equity holdings tend to be most strongly correlated with the number of financing rounds a
company has raised.

This survey of executive compensation in privately held technology companies was conducted between
May and August of 2013. The questionnaire resulted in 550 companies participating with data from over
3,000 executives in a wide cross section of industry sectors, geographies and stages of development.

Base Salary:
By Number of Full-time Employees

Geography

Equity:
By Number of Full-time Employees

1,000s USD

$300
$250
$200
$150
$100
$50
$0

% respondents in this range

14%
% Fully Diluted Shares

$350

Financing Rounds Raised

25th

50th

Mean

75th

120 FTEs

123.8

181.5

183.7

226.3

2140 FTEs

225

250

260.7

41+ FTEs

245

275

281.5

12%
10%

11.3

8%

12.2

6%

California

28.2

New England

20
15

Mid Atlantic

4%

7.6

Midwest

2%
0%

% respondents in this range

25

15.1

25th

50th

Mean

75th

120 FTEs

6.2

10.4

11.6

289

2140 FTEs

3.6

5.3

7.4

306

41+ FTEs

3.7

5.3

6.2

West

25.6

South

10

22.3

21

17

16.3
11.6

5
0

11.8

5 or more

The geographic distribution in 2013 closely mirrors venture


capital funding trends, and the universe of private companies
at large.

The companies in this years survey are at roughly the same


stage as in last years survey, when measured by the number
of financing rounds raised.

Business Segment

Headcount by Number of Full-Time Employees

Slice this data yourself at www.compstudy.com

% respondents in this range

1.5 3
Software
Communications

9.2

Hardware/Semi

14

52.9

IT Services/Consulting
Digital Media/Content/Information

% respondents in this range

50
40
30
20

44.9

Clean Tech

7.5

Healthcare IT

10

18.8

Other

3.9

Software companies continue to make up half of the population;


Clean Tech has been the fastest-growing segment over the past
three years.

120

2140

14.4

4175

22

76+

Respondent company headcounts were distributed similarly to


those in the 2012 survey, with a slightly higher percentage of
large companies this year.

Screenshot of online reporting tool

#
6

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
3

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

Cash Compensation

Equity and Severance

This data compares 2013 compensation data with compensation data for 2012 non-founding executives. 2012 figures
are represented with both actual bonus received and total unachieved target bonus for the year. 2013 bonus figures
indicate at-plan target amounts. More granular analysis can be found online at www.compstudy.com.

The CompStudy survey also contains detailed questions around non-cash executive compensation and benefits. The
2013 online reports show base, bonus, equity at hire, current equity, and severance for each executive role. More
granular analysis can be found online at www.compstudy.com.

Total Cash Compensation: Non-Founders

Equity Holdings

USD 1,000s

% equity owned, fully diluted

$400

$350

54

$300

83

33

$250

23

17

$200
$150

131

250

76

49

17

63

41

16
41

259
182

$100

189
177

185

11.6
172

33

115
56

179

19
28

48

81

26

56

27

11.8
165 169

173 178

8
7
35

168

164

43

34

188
142 142

54

48

39

176

174

31

84

51

190

161

158

3
1

$0

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

2012 Base Salary

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

2012 Bonus Received

Head of
Sales

Head of
Marketing

2012 Unachieved Bonus

Non-founder total target cash compensation was


up 1.6% in 2013, down markedly from the 4.8% rate
of increase between 2011 and 2012. Many positions
saw lower target bonuses in 2013, highlighted by a
4.4% decrease in the target for non-founder CEOs.

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

2013 Base Salary

General
Counsel

6.2
5

$50
CEO

17

2.6

2.6

2
0.9

CEO

COO

1.1

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Bonus as a Percentage of Base Salary

Head of
Engineering

2013 Target Bonus

On average in 2012, non-founder executives


received 65.5% of their target bonuses, up from
60.3% in 2011.

1.2

1.2

0.6

Head of
Sales

0.8

0.7

Head of
Marketing

2013 Median

1.1

0.1

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

0.2
0.5

Head of
HR

0.9

Head of
Prof Svcs

0.2

0.3

General
Counsel

2013 Mean

These equity figures are averages covering


companies across the maturity and
fundraising spectrum.

Earlier-stage non-founder executives do tend to have


more equity, but dilution effects tend to level off after the
second round of financing has been raised.

As the chart below illustrates, only CEOs


consistently received any severance package.

Nearly all severance packages are granted in three-month


increments. The median length of severance for CEOs is
six months. For all other positions it is three months.

Severance Eligibility

% of base salary
% eligible for severance

70%

80

60%

70

18.6

50%
40%

60
20

17

30%
20%

16.3

12.1
9.4

46.3
31.1

11.6

38.7
25.7

10%
0%

8.6
31.9

22.3

22.2

28

48

14.9
31.8

25.3
16.2

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

4.8

27.1
22.5

15.8

Head of
Sales

Head of
Marketing

2012 Unachieved Bonus

17

40

26

28.4

16.1

22.9
17.7

30
21.6

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

General
Counsel

63.5

20

33.3

33.9
26.3

10
0

CEO

2012 Bonus Received

#
4

45.8

11

50

17.4

63.3

26
18.1

CEO

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

Head of
Sales

21

Head of
Marketing

25

26.2

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

34.3

16.8

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

General
Counsel

2013 Target Bonus

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
5

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

Cash Compensation

Equity and Severance

This data compares 2013 compensation data with compensation data for 2012 non-founding executives. 2012 figures
are represented with both actual bonus received and total unachieved target bonus for the year. 2013 bonus figures
indicate at-plan target amounts. More granular analysis can be found online at www.compstudy.com.

The CompStudy survey also contains detailed questions around non-cash executive compensation and benefits. The
2013 online reports show base, bonus, equity at hire, current equity, and severance for each executive role. More
granular analysis can be found online at www.compstudy.com.

Total Cash Compensation: Non-Founders

Equity Holdings

USD 1,000s

% equity owned, fully diluted

$400

$350

54

$300

83

33

$250

23

17

$200
$150

131

250

76

49

17

63

41

16
41

259
182

$100

189
177

185

11.6
172

33

115
56

179

19
28

48

81

26

56

27

11.8
165 169

173 178

8
7
35

168

164

43

34

188
142 142

54

48

39

176

174

31

84

51

190

161

158

3
1

$0

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

2012 Base Salary

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

2012 Bonus Received

Head of
Sales

Head of
Marketing

2012 Unachieved Bonus

Non-founder total target cash compensation was


up 1.6% in 2013, down markedly from the 4.8% rate
of increase between 2011 and 2012. Many positions
saw lower target bonuses in 2013, highlighted by a
4.4% decrease in the target for non-founder CEOs.

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

2013 Base Salary

General
Counsel

6.2
5

$50
CEO

17

2.6

2.6

2
0.9

CEO

COO

1.1

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Bonus as a Percentage of Base Salary

Head of
Engineering

2013 Target Bonus

On average in 2012, non-founder executives


received 65.5% of their target bonuses, up from
60.3% in 2011.

1.2

1.2

0.6

Head of
Sales

0.8

0.7

Head of
Marketing

2013 Median

1.1

0.1

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

0.2
0.5

Head of
HR

0.9

Head of
Prof Svcs

0.2

0.3

General
Counsel

2013 Mean

These equity figures are averages covering


companies across the maturity and
fundraising spectrum.

Earlier-stage non-founder executives do tend to have


more equity, but dilution effects tend to level off after the
second round of financing has been raised.

As the chart below illustrates, only CEOs


consistently received any severance package.

Nearly all severance packages are granted in three-month


increments. The median length of severance for CEOs is
six months. For all other positions it is three months.

Severance Eligibility

% of base salary
% eligible for severance

70%

80

60%

70

18.6

50%
40%

60
20

17

30%
20%

16.3

12.1
9.4

46.3
31.1

11.6

38.7
25.7

10%
0%

8.6
31.9

22.3

22.2

28

48

14.9
31.8

25.3
16.2

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

4.8

27.1
22.5

15.8

Head of
Sales

Head of
Marketing

2012 Unachieved Bonus

17

40

26

28.4

16.1

22.9
17.7

30
21.6

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

General
Counsel

63.5

20

33.3

33.9
26.3

10
0

CEO

2012 Bonus Received

#
4

45.8

11

50

17.4

63.3

26
18.1

CEO

COO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Tech/CTO

Head of
Engineering

Head of
Sales

21

Head of
Marketing

25

26.2

Head of
HR

Head of
Prof Svcs

34.3

16.8

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

General
Counsel

2013 Target Bonus

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
5

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

CEO Compensation by Headcount

Demographics

When controlling for other variables, headcount has proven to be the best predictor of non-founder cash
compensation. Equity holdings tend to be most strongly correlated with the number of financing rounds a
company has raised.

This survey of executive compensation in privately held technology companies was conducted between
May and August of 2013. The questionnaire resulted in 550 companies participating with data from over
3,000 executives in a wide cross section of industry sectors, geographies and stages of development.

Base Salary:
By Number of Full-time Employees

Geography

Equity:
By Number of Full-time Employees

1,000s USD

$300
$250
$200
$150
$100
$50
$0

% respondents in this range

14%
% Fully Diluted Shares

$350

Financing Rounds Raised

25th

50th

Mean

75th

120 FTEs

123.8

181.5

183.7

226.3

2140 FTEs

225

250

260.7

41+ FTEs

245

275

281.5

12%
10%

11.3

8%

12.2

6%

California

28.2

New England

20
15

Mid Atlantic

4%

7.6

Midwest

2%
0%

% respondents in this range

25

15.1

25th

50th

Mean

75th

120 FTEs

6.2

10.4

11.6

289

2140 FTEs

3.6

5.3

7.4

306

41+ FTEs

3.7

5.3

6.2

West

25.6

South

10

22.3

21

17

16.3
11.6

5
0

11.8

5 or more

The geographic distribution in 2013 closely mirrors venture


capital funding trends, and the universe of private companies
at large.

The companies in this years survey are at roughly the same


stage as in last years survey, when measured by the number
of financing rounds raised.

Business Segment

Headcount by Number of Full-Time Employees

Slice this data yourself at www.compstudy.com

% respondents in this range

1.5 3
Software
Communications

9.2

Hardware/Semi

14

52.9

IT Services/Consulting
Digital Media/Content/Information

% respondents in this range

50
40
30
20

44.9

Clean Tech

7.5

Healthcare IT

10

18.8

Other

3.9

Software companies continue to make up half of the population;


Clean Tech has been the fastest-growing segment over the past
three years.

120

2140

14.4

4175

22

76+

Respondent company headcounts were distributed similarly to


those in the 2012 survey, with a slightly higher percentage of
large companies this year.

Screenshot of online reporting tool

#
6

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
3

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

2013 Compensation & Entrepreneurship Report in Technology

Founder Compensation and Sponsor Information


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter to the Industry

Demographics 3

On behalf of Park Square Executive Search, EY, WilmerHale, and Professor Noam

USD 1,000s

Cash Compensation

Wasserman of Harvard Business School, Id like to welcome you to the 2013 edition

$350

of our annual Compensation and Entrepreneurship Report in Technology. This

$300

Equity and Severance


CEO Compensation
by Headcount

4
5

Founder Cash Compensation

reportour fourteenth annual and largest to dateincludes summaries and analysis


of compensation data collected from executives at more than 550 private companies

Founder Compensation and


Sponsor Information
7

from across the country in software, hardware, content, clean tech and other

$250

34.9

industries. The survey data for this edition were collected between May and August
of 2013.

$100

17
240.6

72

34.5
19

$200
$150

28

87.5
57

19.3
24

63.4

83.8

19.5

29.6

36.9
9.3

16.3

248.4

257.5
182.8

206.6

191.3

26

51.9

26.3

64.8

30.8

35.3

205.4

192.8
164.7

comparable compensation data to assist them in the critical decisions involved in

$0

174.6

180.8
152.3

CEO

Head of
Finance/CFO

Head of
Bus Dev/CBO

47.8

199.5

164.7

$50

This survey responds to our clients continuing need for better access to reliable,

18.5

260

Head of
Clinical Research

Head of
Regulatory Affairs

Research &
Develop/CSC

Head of
Platform Tech/CTO

148.7

Head of
Engineering

attracting, motivating and retaining key executives at private companies.


2012 Base Salary

2012 Bonus Received

2012 Unachieved Bonus

2013 Base Salary

2013 Target Bonus

We are able to present correlations between executive compensation and a number


of variables, including: financing stage, company size both in terms of product stage
and headcount, founder/non-founder status, industry segment and geography. We
also provide a number of analytics on Board of Directors compensation and make-

Founder Total Cash

Founder Equity Holdings

Founder CEOs received a more substantial raise than their


non-founder peers: 2.5% vs 0.8%.

On the average, founders of technology companies hold


significantly more equity than their life science peers
largely due to the less capital-intensive nature of most
technology start-ups.

up, company equity plans, and a look at how organizations develop as they raise
additional financing.
This summary document provides only high level excerpts from the detailed analysis
available on-line at www.compstudy.com. Complete access to the data is available

Sponsor Information

free of charge to survey participants and is also available as a paid subscription.

Thanks for reading,

Park Square Executive Search is a


retainer-based executive search firm
located in Cambridge, Massachusetts
and in Menlo Park, California. Park
Square serves clients and institutions
that are changing the world through
discovery, innovation, and growth.

Aaron Lapat
Managing Partner
Park Square Executive Search

www.parksquare.com

EY is a global leader in assurance,


tax, transaction and advisory services.
The insights and quality services
we deliver help build trust and
confidence in the capital markets and
in economies the world over.
We develop outstanding leaders who
team to deliver on our promises to all
of our stakeholders. In so doing, we
play a critical role in building a better
working world for our people, for our
clients and for our communities.

WilmerHale offers unparalleled legal


representation across a comprehensive
range of practice areas that are
critical to the success of our clients.
We practice at the very top of the legal
profession and offer a cutting-edge
blend of capabilities that enables us
to handle deals and cases of any size
and complexity.
www.wilmerhale.com

www.ey.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

www.compstudy.com | www.parksquare.com

#
7

A SERVICE FROM
PARK SQUARE
EXECUTIVE SEARCH

Abbreviated Edition

technology

2013

Special Access Code

cs2013tech

Visit www.compstudy.com and register to receive full access

Sponsored By:

www.compstudy.com
Copyright 1999-2013, Park Square Executive Search LLC. All Rights Reserved

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