One of the biggest bets startup employees make is on the founder. That trust may not be tested until years later, when the company exits. A startup can sell for billions, and the people who helped build it can walk away with vastly different outcomes. During M&A negotiations, investors bought in at different prices and have different return expectations. The buyer has its own priorities. Employees don’t have a seat at the negotiating table, even when the deal could be a life-changing event for them. So much can come down to whether the founder has their back when they're not in the room. In the latest Greylock Originals, @chronosphereio co-founder Martin Mao (@martin_c_mao )and Greylock Partner @jerrychen share what happened behind the scenes of Palo Alto Networks' $3.35B acquisition of the company. 00:00 The decision behind the headline 01:01 Why sell a fast growing company? 02:15 What makes an offer worth accepting? 03:36 "You only get one chance to sell" 05:18 A first-time founder vs. a Fortune 500 CEO 07:11 Who speaks for the employees?