Employee Ownership in New Zealand Startups

A recent survey by the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and the Angel Association of startup firms backed by angel investors found that the vast majority (88%) use employee stock plans, most of which were stock option plans. NZVIF Investment Director Chris Twiss said "96 percent of the CEOs who responded said that they would implement ESOP plans [meaning employee stock plans of various types, not US-style ESOPs] in future organisations, which suggest the plans are working well and seen as a really important part of a start up's armoury."