Ask HN: Any recourse for ex-employee excluded from share repurchase?

Four years ago, I joined a startup as a very early engineering hire. I worked there for 2.5 years but left last year to pursue a different opportunity.

The startup is busy working on a funding round with a >$1b valuation, and in the process will be repurchasing some shares from employees. Problem is, they're only purchasing 5% of shares, and only from current employees. It seems messed up that because I started there so early I'd be excluded from the repurchase.

It's been four years and I'd like to get some liquidity for the work I put in, but at this point it seems I'll get nothing unless the entire company is liquidated (unlikely) or they go public (less likely).

Have any of you been in a similar situation? Do I have any other options?