This Week in Startups · Friday, August 7, 2026
Figma CEO Dylan Fields has opted to give up a $46 million stock award to boost investor confidence as the company faces financial headwinds. Despite the company's stock being down significantly from its IPO price, Fields expressed confidence in Figma's future, citing strong Q2 revenue growth. He also addressed the broader issue of stock-based compensation and its impact on shareholder dilution.
“Delusion is something that I feel just like our shareholders feel. Given that this is an investment period right now. That felt like the thing that made sense to do.”
“For Figma, him giving up a huge stock ramp brings up a bigger issue, which is stock-based compensation. And a lot of companies, Lon, have gotten into, giving huge amounts of stock-based compensation a year, 1, 2, 3% of the company.”
“So this is signaling, uh, which is, hey, I'm not gonna try to make an extra two, three, four, five percent on my net worth. I'm going to give that back to the shareholders and I'm going to show you how great this company is.”