Selling shares · DeepL

How to sell your DeepL shares

Hold vested shares or options in DeepL (AI translation, Germany)? Here's how a private secondary sale works, the rules that apply in Germany, who buys, and what to expect.

DeepL is a private AI translation company headquartered in Germany. If you hold vested shares or options in DeepL and want to turn part of that into cash before an IPO or acquisition, this is a plain-English guide to how a private secondary sale actually works — and what's specific to DeepL and to Germany.

Independent guide. PrivateTechShares is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to DeepL. This is general educational information for people who already hold DeepL shares or options. Always check your own share/option agreements and take professional advice.

Can you sell DeepL shares before an exit?

Often, yes. Selling existing shares you own in a private company to a private buyer, before the company is sold or lists, is called a secondary sale. It's possible for DeepL shares if they're vested and transferable, and once you've cleared DeepL's transfer rules. There's no public market for a private company, so a sale is a private, negotiated transfer — not a click of a button.

What you probably hold

First, pin down what you actually have. In Germany, startup equity is usually held as virtual shares (VSOP) — which usually can't be sold — or real GmbH/AG shares. You can generally only sell shares, so if you hold options you typically exercise them (pay the strike price to convert them into shares) before you can sell. Check your grant documents for your vested amount, strike price and any deadlines.

The rules that apply in Germany

How a sale works, and how it's taxed, depends on the rules in Germany — transfer formalities, any right of first refusal, and the tax on a gain. We've written a dedicated plain-English guide: selling startup shares in Germany. Read it alongside this page.

Who buys DeepL shares

There are four realistic buyers, roughly in order: DeepL itself (if it runs a buyback or tender), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in DeepL's next funding round, and — when those don't apply — a private individual investor who wants exposure to DeepL. Recognisable names like DeepL tend to attract private-investor interest; the hard part is finding that buyer discreetly, which is the gap we fill.

What to expect on price

A private, minority, all-cash secondary usually happens at a discount to DeepL's last headline valuation — because the buyer takes an illiquid stake with no guaranteed exit, and because you likely hold common shares, which are worth less than investors' preferred shares. That's normal, not a trick. See what discount is fair for a realistic range.

Thinking about selling your DeepL shares?

You can list them privately — you stay anonymous until an investor signs an NDA, and you only pay a fee if a deal actually closes. We focus on exactly these small European secondaries (€10k–€750k).

List your shares →

Hold options and weighing whether to exercise first? The exercise & tax calculators (US) and the valuation estimator can help you put a number on it.

Questions people ask

Can I sell my DeepL shares before an exit?

Often yes. If you hold vested, transferable shares in DeepL you can sell them to a private buyer in a secondary before an IPO or acquisition, subject to DeepL's transfer rules — typically a right of first refusal and board or company approval. If you hold options rather than shares, you generally exercise them into shares first. DeepL is a private company, so there is no public market; a sale is a private, negotiated transfer.

How much are my DeepL shares worth?

There is no live price for a private company like DeepL. A rough estimate starts from the price per share at its most recent funding round, adjusted for your share class (common shares are usually worth less than the preferred shares investors hold) and a discount for selling a private, minority, illiquid stake. Use our free valuation estimator as a starting point, and remember it is only an estimate.

Who buys DeepL shares?

Four types of buyer: DeepL itself (via a buyback or tender, if it runs one), existing investors or shareholders (often via a right of first refusal), the investor in an upcoming funding round, or a private individual investor seeking exposure to DeepL. Well-known names often attract private-investor interest, which is where an introductions-only marketplace helps.