Are you getting stock option in the company? the best way to get those through either restricted stock or early exercise options. If the exercise price is low it makes sense to have your options exercised as soon as possible. one way to do it is to ask for an early exercise option. This means you buy the stock when you get it, the option is subject to reverse vesting and repurchase, and in this way you get to hold the shares as long as possible for the purposes of [QSBS]