Definition
A provision that speeds up the vesting of unvested equity upon specific events like acquisition or termination. It's the golden parachute for startup employees who might otherwise get screwed by good news.
Example Usage
Thanks to the single-trigger acceleration clause, all my unvested options became immediately exercisable when we got acquired.
Origin
Evolved from executive compensation practices in the 1980s-90s, adapted to startup equity structures.
Fun Fact
Single-trigger acceleration (upon acquisition) is generally seen as reckless; double-trigger (acquisition plus termination) is the standard in well-advised companies.
Source: Silicon Valley compensation consulting standards
Related Terms
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See “acceleration clause” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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