EquityList Product Updates

Bypass employee e-signature for grant execution

Under Equity Awards > Grants, we've introduced a new option allowing company admins to bypass the employee's e-signature requirement when executing equity grants. This update streamlines the grant execution process, especially for scenarios where collecting employee signatures may not be immediately necessary.

‍How it works?

1. Setup toggle: Inside a scheme’s properties, company admins can now toggle on/off the ‘Bypass Employee E-Sign for Grant Execution’ option. When enabled, this feature allows grant execution to proceed with just the company's e-signature, skipping the employee's sign-off step.
   
2. Faster grant execution: With the bypass enabled, the grant execution process is reduced to two steps: a) setting up a grant, and b) applying the company's e-signature. Employees will not receive an invite to sign; the grant gets fully executed upon the company's approval.

(Note: This option can be toggled off at any time, thereby reverting to the standard flow where employees are prompted to e-sign their grants. Currently, this toggle is available only for ESOP schemes.)

New employee consents feature

Under Employees > Consents, admins can now create, manage, and track employee consent requests. This feature ensures employees acknowledge specific policies or documents before gaining full access to their dashboards.

What’s new?

1. Consent creation and customization: Admins can easily create new consents with a unique title, set reminder frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly), and specify the maximum number of reminders.
   
2. Access control: When setting up a consent, admins can check the option to ‘Block Dashboard Access for Employees’ until the consent is signed.
   
   When selected, employees with pending consents will be redirected to the signing page instead of their dashboards. When not selected, employees will be able to access their dashboards but their consent will still be pending.
   
3. Tracking and status monitoring: Admins can monitor the consent’s status, check if employees have viewed or signed it, and track the exact dates and times of each action.
   
   (Tip: Signed consent documents are accessible in the employee’s Document Center, maintaining transparency and record-keeping.]
   
4. Guardrails for admins: Consents can be saved in draft mode, allowing admins to verify templates before sending them to employees.
   
   (Note: Drafts can be deleted, but once sent, the consent becomes final and cannot be removed.)

New ‘Document Center’ to share files easily with employees

Under Employees > Document Center, employees and other stakeholders with grant documents can find system-generated documents auto-populated within their dashboard in a single place. Company admins can also upload standard employee documents that can be securely accessible in their dashboards.

How is a Document Center different from a Data Room?

Data Rooms are document vaults with additional security measures (like access passcodes) and are designed to share confidential information with fewer people, like investors or board members.

In contrast, a Document Center is more open, one-to-many option i.e. with a single upload, company admins can make a file available to all employees.

(Tip: As an EquityList admin, if you’re collecting employee consents, a signed copy of their own consent letter will also be automatically stored in the Document Center at their end.)

New Single Sign-On (SSO) integration

For our customers already using Single Sign-On (SSO) to streamline access to applications like Jira, GitHub, and Outlook via Microsoft Active Directory—we’re excited to announce a new SSO integration with EquityList.

Employees and admins can now access their EquityList accounts directly from their Active Directory or other SSO dashboards without needing separate EquityList credentials.

How it works?

1. Integration setup: Under Company > Integrations, admins can select SSO and simply upload their SAML metadata URL or XML file from their SSO provider (e.g., Azure Active Directory).
   
2. Seamless access for employees: Once configured, employees can log in to EquityList directly from their SSO dashboard by clicking on the EquityList logo—no additional login required!
   
3. Enhanced security and control: With SSO, our customers get added security and simplified management. If an employee exits the company, revoking access from the SSO dashboard will also remove access to EquityList, ensuring data security.

Show FMV growth chart in the employee dashboard

Company admins can now show their FMV growth chart to option-holders directly in their dashboards.

This option is disabled by default since many companies may want to first ensure that their entire valuation history is correctly uploaded on the EquityList platform in the first place.

(If you're an EquityList customer and would like to enable this option, reach out to your Account Manager or write to us at help@equitylist.co.)

Upgraded board consents for equity grants

With the updated board approval features, admins can now seek Board Consents directly while issuing equity grants to stakeholders.

What’s new?

1. Pool-based filtering: In the Equity Awards > Grants page, admins now have access to grant filters making it easier to locate ‘draft’ grants when sending board consent requests.
   
2. Swift board approval process: Admins can bulk-create board consent requests by selecting grants, specifying board members for approval, and choosing the board meeting date and time.
   
3. Automated email notifications: When a board consent request is initiated, invited board members receive an email with a direct link to review and sign the consent. Upon signing, automated emails notify all involved parties, confirming that the board consent has been approved.
   
4. Auto-filled board approval dates: Once the board consent has been successfully executed, the board authorized dates will automatically be linked to the respective equity grants.
   
5. Employee counter-signature: For grants configured to require employee acknowledgment, employees receive a notification to sign the finalized grant letter once board approval is complete.
   
6. Real-time status tracking: The Legal > Board Consents page displays real-time signing statuses, showing the number of board members who have signed.