What to do in an equity disagreement in a startup
sam_in_nyc: I was involved in a much similar situation... a start-up with 2 business guys and 3 tech guys.  The tech team was 3 not-yet-graduated students, and we were always suspicious of the business guys.However things turn out, just be sure that your "%" is the same kind of "%" as theirs is -- if your shares get diluted, so do theirs.  This way, all interests are aligned: you all have slices of the same pie, and work to make that pie larger.From what you've posted, it seems completely unfair for the 4% to come from you alone.  It should be diluted from the remaining 80% not owned by Austin, and it should be agreed upon by all that own that 80%.  In other words, it shouldn't be Austin asking you for 4%, it should be Austin asking everyone involved for 4%.Best of luck.