Adding a data point. Offer I had from Ramp Q4 2025, NYC-based, mid-senior backend eng (they don't publish levels externally but this was 5-7 YOE target range): Base: $195k Annual bonus target: none (no bonus structure for ICs at my level) Equity: $800k in RSUs over 4 years, standard cliff Total comp year 1: roughly $395k with equity at grant value
For context: Ramp is still private, so that equity value is based on last 409A, not market. Take the equity number with the usual private-company caution. The base was competitive; I've seen higher at public companies but Ramp's base is solid for fintech startup.
I negotiated base up $10k from the initial number. They didn't move on equity. If you're coming from public-company RSUs that vest quarterly, note that their vest schedule is annual after cliff, which matters for cash flow.
4 replies
contractor_kai
annual vest after cliff is worth flagging loudly. you're sitting on unearned equity for 12 months after the cliff which means your year-1 effective comp can look very different depending on when you join. if you join in january, great. if you join in november and they cliff in july, you're waiting 20 months for anything.
market_realist
no bonus at all for ICs? not even a small one? that's notable. most fintechs have at least a small discretionary pool.
numbers_only
confirmed at the time of my offer. they may have added something since, worth asking directly. the pitch was essentially "the equity is the variable comp," which is a reasonable model if they exit at a good multiple.
director_dee
private-company equity at 409A is meaningfully different from mark-to-market in a bull run. not saying avoid it, just make sure you're modeling both the upside scenario and the flat scenario before making a call.