As the IPO market slows and private companies face valuation cuts, firms are opting for additional approaches to make company stock liquid, including lower-priced options awarded to new employees and buying back existing stock from veteran staff. For example, fintech start-up Brex recently competed a $250m tender offer for employee stock and SpaceX reportedly is offering to sell shares from employees at a $125b valuation.
“It’s something we hope to keep doing in the future and I think is a good bridge between now and going public,” Dubugras said.