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Guides, comparisons, and insights for startup founders managing equity and fundraising.
15 articlesWhat Is Equity Dilution — How Fundraising Affects Your Startup Ownership
Understand how equity dilution works in startups with concrete numerical examples. Learn dilution per round, anti-dilution provisions, when dilution is good, and how to model it before it happens.
What Is a Cap Table? The Definitive Guide for Startup Founders
A capitalization table (cap table) tracks every share, option, SAFE, and convertible note in your company. Learn what a cap table includes, why it matters, and how to build one correctly.
What Is a 409A Valuation? Cost, Timing, and How It Works
A 409A valuation determines the fair market value of your startup's common stock. Learn when you need one, what it costs, how the process works, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Vesting Schedules Explained — How Startup Equity Vests Over Time
A complete guide to vesting schedules for startup founders and employees. Learn how 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff works, acceleration clauses, early exercise, and tax implications.
How to Split Equity Between Startup Co-Founders
A practical framework for dividing startup equity between co-founders. Covers equal vs. unequal splits, decision factors, vesting protection, common mistakes, and when to revisit your split.
SAFE Notes Explained: The Complete Guide for Founders and Investors
A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is the most common early-stage fundraising instrument. Learn how SAFEs work, key terms, conversion mechanics, and how they compare to convertible notes.
Pro Rata Rights Explained: What Startup Founders and Investors Need to Know
Pro rata rights let investors maintain their ownership percentage in future funding rounds. Learn how they work, where they appear, and when founders should push back.
How to Size Your Startup's Option Pool — A Stage-by-Stage Guide
Learn how to calculate the right option pool size for your startup. Covers typical pool sizes by stage, the option pool shuffle, hiring plan math, and when to refresh.
How to Prepare for Due Diligence: The Complete Startup Checklist
Investor due diligence can make or break your fundraise. This complete checklist covers every document, red flag, and timeline expectation so you close faster and with fewer surprises.
ISO vs NSO: A Complete Guide to Employee Stock Options at Startups
ISOs and NSOs are the two types of employee stock options. Learn how they differ in tax treatment, eligibility, and exercise strategy — with real numbers and side-by-side comparisons.
Convertible Notes vs SAFEs: Which Is Right for Your Startup?
Convertible notes and SAFEs are the two main instruments for early-stage fundraising. Learn the key differences, tax and legal implications, and which one founders and investors prefer in 2026.
Common Stock vs Preferred Stock: What Startup Founders Need to Know
Common stock and preferred stock have different rights, protections, and economics. Learn how they work at startups — liquidation preferences, anti-dilution, and who gets what.
How to Set Up Your Cap Table as a First-Time Founder
A practical, no-jargon guide to setting up your startup's cap table correctly from day one — share classes, founder splits, option pools, and common mistakes to avoid.
Carta vs Slyced — Why Founders Are Switching
A detailed comparison of Carta and Slyced for cap table management, pricing, features, and why early-stage startups are choosing Slyced.
What Is an 83(b) Election and Why Founders Should File One
The 83(b) election can save startup founders thousands (or millions) in taxes. Here's what it is, when to file, and exactly how to do it.
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