The equity position is optional. It exists to lower what you pay in cash — not as a requirement to work with Mentec.
Every Mentec engagement is paid for through the same two components — a retainer, and optionally, an equity position. Only the balance between them changes.
The exact reduction is agreed per partnership, but the direction always holds: more equity, less cash retainer.
No. It's optional. Some partners prefer to keep it a straightforward cash arrangement, and that's a completely workable version of the same engagement.
The retainer. Taking an equity position lowers the cash retainer, because part of Mentec's return is then tied to the enterprise value we help build — not just the monthly fee.
Then the retainer is set higher, structured as a standalone advisory fee. No equity changes hands, and the scope of work — strategy, planning, execution — doesn't change either way.
Case by case, during the proposal stage, based on the business and what's being asked of the engagement. There's no fixed formula published here because there isn't one in practice.