What is Cliff?
A period of time during which an employee or founder earns no equity, after which a large chunk vests all at once. The standard startup cliff is 1 year (meaning if you leave before 1 year, you get 0 shares).
Understanding Cliff is critical for startup founders navigating the venture capital ecosystem. Whether you are actively fundraising or just planning your capital strategy, grasping these terms helps you negotiate better deals and find the right investment partners.
Find active investors
Search our database of verified angels and VCs currently deploying capital.