Rethinking Compensation at Startale: Building Fairness, Focus and the Future Together
At Startale, rethinking compensation isn’t just about spreadsheets or benchmarking.
It began with a question: “How can we better support the incredible people who build Startale every day?”
In the fast-moving world of web3, volatility is the norm. What we do not believe in is letting that volatility distract our team from what truly matters: building meaningful products, forging real partnerships, and shaping the onchain future together.
This is why Startale Group has redesigned our compensation model to remove unnecessary noise, reward real impact, and reflect our commitment to stability, fairness, and shared growth.
From Market-Driven to Product-Driven Growth
Startale is evolving into a product-driven company.
Our success will not be defined by token movements or market speculation. Our value lies in the impact and strength of our products, the trust of our partners, and the long-term growth of what we create.
By tying compensation to reliable outcomes instead of market swings, we empower our team to channel their energy where it counts and move Startale and the industry forward.
A Clear and Fair Compensation Model
We designed a structure that’s transparent and easy to understand. Every member of Startale is rewarded through two components:
1. Guaranteed Base Salary (Cash Base)
A stable cash foundation that reflects your skills, responsibilities, and contributions.
2. Standard Performance Bonus (SPB)
A consistent, clearly defined bonus that rewards reliable performance and alignment with Startale’s goals.
How this works:
- Predictable Rewards: The SPB is approved quarterly but paid monthly for ongoing stability and motivation.
- Transparent Evaluation: A simple five-point scale ensures fairness and clarity. A rating of three or higher (“Meets Expectation”) guarantees your monthly bonus.
- USD Stability: The SPB is paid in USD, stablecoins, or tokens — but always USD-locked based on the previous month’s average price. This shields members from short-term market swings.
At Startale, we take the market risk so our team doesn’t have to. Financial peace of mind lets you focus on creating, innovating, and growing.
A Thoughtful Approach to Stock Options
Our Stock Option (SO) program is one of the ways we aim to share Startale’s success with the people who build it. Stock Options are not only about trust; they represent participation in the company’s growth and long-term vision.
We look to find ways to incentivize people with Stock Options when it is possible, ensuring that as the company grows, those who contributed to building it can share in its upside. They are granted thoughtfully to recognize long-term commitment, meaningful impact, and leadership.
As we prepare for future funding rounds, there will be opportunities for team members holding vested or exercisable stock options to participate in secondary transactions, giving them a chance to realize value from their contributions.
This approach is common among high-growth startups and reflects our commitment to making stock options meaningful and tangible rather than purely theoretical. Even for those who do not participate immediately, similar opportunities will be presented as the company grows.
We are committed to ensuring that Startale’s stock options remain one of the most rewarding forms of compensation over time, recognizing the dedication and impact of our team members.
Fairness You Can Rely On
Fairness at Startale isn’t a negotiation, it’s a principle. Our offers are designed to be consistent, transparent, and equitable.
In rare cases where exceptions exist, they’re made thoughtfully and with clear reasoning.
We want every member to understand not only what they’re paid, but why, because trust is built on integrity, respect, and transparency.
More Than Numbers: Our Promise to You
Every decision about compensation at Startale reflects our genuine gratitude.
We’re thankful for the resilience, creativity, and belief that every member brings to our shared mission: to bring the world onchain.
This new compensation structure is more than a financial system; it’s a promise. A promise that Startale will continue to grow with you, for you, and because of you.
We promise that if you bring your exceptional talent to Startale and do the work that moves us forward, you will be rewarded in ways that reflect the true value of what you've built.
Thank you for being part of the Startale A-Team, the team building the next civilization by bringing the world onchain.
If you would like to be part of this journey, join us here.
With gratitude,
Shun Ishikawa
Chief of Staff, Startale Group