Vesting & grants
What is Vesting Acceleration?
Provisions that speed up vesting on certain triggering events - typically an acquisition or involuntary termination.
Acceleration clauses speed up the vesting schedule when specific events occur. The two most common forms: single-trigger (accelerates on acquisition alone) and double-trigger (requires both an acquisition AND an involuntary termination within a defined window, typically 12 months post-close). Double-trigger is the founder/employee-friendly modern default - it protects against being fired post-acquisition and losing unvested equity, while not making the acquirer pay for fully-vested but uncommitted employees.