There's a lot of material you can find and read about online. Please do it.
Your "equity" is most likely "options" which means as you vest them (usually on a vesting schedule, look at your contract) you have the option to purchase (or exercise, because some types of equity can be rewarded without buying them) shares at a specified strike price.
In finance, an option is a contract which gives the buyer (the owner) the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset or instrument at a specified strike price on or before a specified date.
I've been a founder, of multiple companies. You're most likely being screwed but the founders are most likely going to be screwed too; dilution sucks unless you've got low burn and high revenue (which gives you an upper-hand in dealing with investors). Generally as a founder too, the number one killer is running out of money, so when the funding ball starts to roll we (the founders) typically ride it hard as we can, which unless you're an established 10x-making-founder, means the founders get diluted hard.
One of these days I want to make enough from a venture to build one with an upper-hand on the investors, I definitely want to create an environment where people are having fun, working hard, and also are rewarded handsomely with ownership in the company. Igalia is an inspiring example I think.
Your "equity" is most likely "options" which means as you vest them (usually on a vesting schedule, look at your contract) you have the option to purchase (or exercise, because some types of equity can be rewarded without buying them) shares at a specified strike price.
In finance, an option is a contract which gives the buyer (the owner) the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset or instrument at a specified strike price on or before a specified date.
I've been a founder, of multiple companies. You're most likely being screwed but the founders are most likely going to be screwed too; dilution sucks unless you've got low burn and high revenue (which gives you an upper-hand in dealing with investors). Generally as a founder too, the number one killer is running out of money, so when the funding ball starts to roll we (the founders) typically ride it hard as we can, which unless you're an established 10x-making-founder, means the founders get diluted hard.
One of these days I want to make enough from a venture to build one with an upper-hand on the investors, I definitely want to create an environment where people are having fun, working hard, and also are rewarded handsomely with ownership in the company. Igalia is an inspiring example I think.