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    Acceleration (Double Trigger)

    Also called: Double-trigger acceleration

    TL;DR

    A vesting acceleration provision requiring two events, typically a change of control AND involuntary termination, before unvested equity vests.

    Double-trigger acceleration is the more acquirer-friendly version: unvested equity accelerates only if both an acquisition happens AND the employee is terminated (or constructively terminated through a material role change) within a defined window after closing.

    Double trigger balances founder/employee protection with acquirer retention needs. It's the modern default for executive grants in venture-backed companies. The window after acquisition (typically 12 to 18 months) and the definition of 'good reason' termination are the most negotiated elements.

    Worked example

    An exec with 50% vested has double-trigger acceleration: change of control + termination without cause within 12 months. The company is acquired in March; the acquirer terminates the role in August, at termination, all unvested shares accelerate.

    Common pitfalls

    • •Defining 'good reason' too narrowly and losing the protection.
    • •Letting the acceleration window be too short to matter.
    • •Mixing single and double trigger across grants without consistent rationale.

    When this shows up in a pitch deck

    Diligence and acquisition content; not on the deck.

    Related terms

    Acceleration (Single Trigger)

    A vesting acceleration provision where unvested equity vests automatically on a single triggering event, typically a change of control.

    Vesting

    The schedule by which equity grants are earned over time, typically 4 years with a 1-year cliff for founders, employees, and advisors.

    Term Sheet

    A non-binding document outlining the principal terms of a proposed financing, used to align investor and founder before legal documents are drafted.

    Acquihire

    An acquisition primarily motivated by the acquirer's desire to hire the target company's team, with little value placed on the product or revenue.

    Founder Vesting

    A vesting schedule applied to founder equity, typically required by VC investors to align founders with the long-term outcome.

    Use Acceleration (Double Trigger) in your next pitch deck

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