The Team

The people behind the philosophy.

Tarun Gulati

Founder & MD

A Company Secretary by qualification with over 20 years of exclusive focus on stock-based compensation. Tarun has advised over 200 companies, radically changing how founders across organizations and listed enterprises think about equity.

He firmly believes that an ESOP is not a financial bribe or a retention tool, but a pure statement of intent. A well-designed scheme maximises the magnitude of a team's potential and their peace of mind.

He is the author of the VVC Ownership Model and the 6D Stock Options Framework — an open global standard for designing employee stock options strategies anchored in values and vision.

Tarun is also the founder of Contemplate, an initiative built around the ADIOS framework (A Dialogue In Objective Silence). He teaches leaders how contemplation directly drives clarity.

Karan Pratap

CEO

A Chartered Accountant with deep experience in financial rigour and global technology operations. Karan brings a rare combination of Big 4 advisory discipline and organization execution speed.

Previously at KPMG and Stripe, he has led financial operations across India, the US, and cross-border structures. At Just Esops, he drives the execution of ESOP strategies with mathematical precision and operational excellence.

Karan oversees the Atom platform, ensuring it translates the 6D framework into an intuitive digital experience for founders and their advisors.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Just Esops team

Who leads Just Esops?

Tarun Gulati is Founder and MD, a Company Secretary with over 20 years of exclusive focus on stock-based compensation. Karan Pratap is CEO, a Chartered Accountant previously at KPMG and Stripe, who brings Big 4 advisory discipline and global operations experience.

What is Tarun Gulati's philosophy on ESOPs?

Tarun believes an ESOP is not a financial bribe or a retention tool — it is a pure statement of intent. A well-designed scheme maximises the magnitude of a team's potential and their peace of mind. He has advised over 200 companies on this basis.

What has Tarun Gulati created?

He is the author of the VVC Ownership Model and the 6D Stock Options Framework — an open global standard for designing employee stock options strategies anchored in values and vision.

What is the Contemplate initiative?

Contemplate is a separate initiative founded by Tarun, built around the ADIOS framework — A Dialogue In Objective Silence. It teaches leaders how contemplation directly drives clarity, and is the philosophical backbone behind Just Esops' approach to ESOP design.

What does Karan Pratap focus on at Just Esops?

Karan drives the execution of ESOP strategies with mathematical precision and operational excellence. He oversees the Atom platform, ensuring it translates the 6D framework into an intuitive digital experience for founders and their advisors.

What is Karan Pratap's background?

Karan is a Chartered Accountant with deep experience in financial rigour and global technology operations. Previously at KPMG and Stripe, he has led financial operations across India, the US, and cross-border structures.

Is the 6D framework publicly available?

Yes. The VVC Standard open-sources the methodology, including the 6D framework and VVC Ownership Model, as a global reference for values-first ESOP design — free to download as a PDF.

How do I reach the founding team?

Contact Tarun Gulati at tarun@justesops.com and Karan Pratap at karan@justesops.com, or use the Contact page. Both are listed as primary points of outreach. Just Esops responds within 48 hours.