When Amy left Taya in November 2025, she negotiated the sale of approximately 10% of her equity back to the company for $117,375 (part of a larger $180,000 share repurchase).
The Numbers
Amy originally held approximately 13% of Taya. The separation agreement covered: - 2,874,742 shares repurchased for $180,000 - 125,258 shares retained (approximately 3%, certificate CS-7) - The $180,000 was described as a "negotiated value," not fair market value
Tax Treatment
The $100,000 share repurchase portion was structured as long-term capital gains, split across 2025 and 2026 ($90,000 in December 2025, $90,000 in January 2026). The 15% federal LTCG rate applied.
Amy's dad had invested $40,000 in Taya.
The Calculus
Amy sold 10% of a company that, at the time, had no shipped product, no revenue, and an unclear future. Six months later, Elena raised $5M. The raise does not necessarily mean Amy's shares would have been worth more (seed rounds do not always increase the value of common shares at the same rate), but the timing is notable.
Amy retains 3%, which matters only if Taya ever has a liquidity event. Given the company's trajectory (no hardware shipped, no FCC filing, declining team), this is uncertain.
The Messy Cap Table
Elena did not properly record the repurchase in Carta. The system shows Amy owning 1,125,000 shares when the separation agreement says 125,258. Amy has the legal document. The cap table error is Elena's problem for future due diligence, not Amy's.
From March 11 to March 25, 2026, Amy engaged in an extensive Carta support thread about the CS-7 certificate. Rafael Sousa, a Carta support representative, helped her navigate the situation. Carta confirmed that Amy's separation agreement serves as legal proof of ownership. Rafael offered to reach out to Mobius (the legal entity) on Amy's behalf to fix the record. Amy decided to let Carta do it, then ultimately accepted that the messy cap table is Elena's problem. If Taya ever has a liquidity event, Amy has the paperwork.