Companies should evaluate their stock option policies regularly to ensure they are fair and beneficial for both departing and remaining employees. To make stock options meaningful, employees must stay until an exit, have their stock vest, and the company must be worth something; otherwise, owning 10% of nothing is still nothing.

The traditional 90-day exercise period for stock options can be problematic for employees who may not have the funds to exercise their options after leaving a company, leading to unfair situations.

A better policy for stock options would allow employees to exercise their options for a longer period, such as 10 years, to avoid losing their vested options due to financial constraints.

Despite the challenges in Europe, there's a lot of talent and potential in the industrial sector, but regulatory frameworks and geographic fragmentation make it difficult for businesses to thrive.

It's really hard to be a public company due to reporting requirements and misaligned shareholder interests.

Starting a company in Europe presents challenges, such as a fragmented market and a lack of nurturing environments for early-stage startups compared to Silicon Valley.

It's crucial to consider the reputational impact on your company when terminating an employee, especially regarding their ability to exercise stock options and the fairness of the process.

Companies are legally required to maximize profits for shareholders, which often conflicts with societal interests.

It's sometimes beneficial to offer a lower salary in exchange for a higher equity stake, but not all employees may be open to this arrangement.