You want to find out the size of each investor's stake in the company. This information is useful when you find out how many shares there are in the company. It might be hard to find out the current strike price before you receive a formal offer, but once an offer is on the table, start quizzing your potential employer. If you're working with a recruiter, ask them for some help. Recruiters typically have complete information on how a client's stock is valued and can help you negotiate fair shares.
Recruiters say that companies offering equity expect candidates to ask about their financing.
Davis agrees that it's OK to talk about options. She suggests that candidates ask companies to help them understand how they are evaluating their equity - specifically, what value was attributed to recent hires' shares. It's also important to know which round of financing a company has reached. If it's an early-stage company, you can probably get a higher percentage of the company or more shares. If it's in a later stage, consider who is doing the funding.