Slicing Pie: Funding Your Company Without Funds
by Mike Moyer · 2012
In a nutshell
By Mike Moyer (2012, self-published, multiple editions), this book proposes a dynamic equity-splitting model for early-stage startups, where each founder's share grows based on the actual time, money, and resources they contribute rather than a fixed upfront split.
Overview
Mike Moyer, an entrepreneur and professor, self-published Slicing Pie in 2012 to address a common early-stage problem: how to fairly split equity among founders whose time and money contributions vary and change.
Key Ideas
- Fixed, upfront equity splits often become unfair as contributions change over time.
- A dynamic equity model recalculates ownership based on ongoing contributions of time, cash, and resources.
- Contributions should be valued consistently using a simple formula, not guesswork.
- The model 'bakes' into a fixed split once the company becomes self-sustaining (profitable or funded).
- This avoids resentment that often comes from a static 50/50 or handshake deal.
Best For
Pre-funding co-founder teams trying to divide equity fairly before they have revenue or investment.
Reference
Slicing Pie: Funding Your Company Without Funds — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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