PrivateTechShares is an information and tools resource for people who hold equity in private companies. It helps founders, employees with ESOP options, ex-employees and early angels work out what their shares or options may be worth, what it costs to exercise them, how dilution changes their slice, and how a sale is taxed in their country. Free calculators and sourced guides sit alongside an optional paid toolkit for readers who want a structured, step-by-step assessment.

Key Features

A free estimator prices your stake off the company's last funding round, adjusting for common versus preferred shares and for liquidity, so you get a realistic range rather than a single number.
Free calculators model exit waterfall payouts after investor preferences and the cost of exercising vested options, plus an AMT-aware version for US holders.
Country guides cover Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, with sources shown and current 2026 figures.
Company pages cover more than 250 US pre-IPO and EU unicorn names, from OpenAI and Stripe to Revolut and Mistral AI.
The paid Equity Toolkit adds an 8-phase A to Z deal map with clear stop points, a live net proceeds calculator, a Deal Room control panel and 11 ready-to-send messages.
An Equity Position Report runs your own grant through worth, exercise cost, dilution, exit waterfall and country tax scenarios in one sourced PDF.

Who Should Use PrivateTechShares

Founders and early shareholders who want a realistic value range and a clear view of transfer restrictions such as right of first refusal and board approval.
Employees and leavers with vested options who need to understand exercise cost, the US AMT trap and the roughly 90-day window that often follows departure.
Smaller private shareholders in the US and Europe looking at transactions of €10,000 to €750,000 that large secondary platforms often pass over.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PrivateTechShares?

An information and tools resource for people holding equity in private companies. It offers free calculators, plain-English guides and an optional paid toolkit, and it does not broker sales or hold shares.

Is my equity worth anything before an exit?

Often yes, though usually less than the last-round headline price. Most holders own common shares, which are worth less than the preferred shares investors bought, and the stake is illiquid, so the estimator returns a range.

Do I need the company's permission to sell my shares?

Usually there are transfer restrictions in your shareholder agreement, such as a right of first refusal or a requirement for board approval. That is not a dead end, but the transfer does need clearing with the company first.

How is selling startup shares taxed?

A gain is generally treated as a capital gain, though rates and rules vary by country. The site's country guides show cited figures for seven European markets, and it recommends confirming your position with a tax adviser.

Does PrivateTechShares find buyers or sell shares on my behalf?

No. It describes itself as an information and tools resource only, helping you understand your position and prepare while pointing to who typically buys private shares.

PrivateTechShares