Our Series E and the future of Carta
At Carta, we’re building an ownership network that changes how assets are acquired, valued, and transacted. To propel Carta forward, we just raised our Series E.
CARTA BLOG
Owner’s Manual
Whether you’re getting your first option grant or managing a fund, our blog is the best place to learn about ownership, equity, and the Carta product.
Recently added
How to add unique value as a small VC fund: Lessons from Sinai Ventures
Focus on your differentiator Leverage your network Partner (don’t compete) with bigger firms Be bold Find efficiencies wherever you can
What are non-qualified stock options (NSOs)?
Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) are a type of stock option that does not qualify for favorable tax treatment for the employee. Learn more about when you can exercise (buy) your shares, when you can sell them, and how they’re taxed.
What are incentive stock options (ISOs)?
ISOs are a type of stock option that qualifies for special tax treatment. Unlike other types of options, you usually don’t have to pay taxes when you exercise (buy) ISOs. Plus, you may be able to pay a lower tax rate if you meet certain requirements. Here’s what you need to know.
Announcements
Meet Carta for Venture Capital
You’ve used Carta to accept securities and access cap tables. Now we’re building fund admin tools that will change the way you run your back office.
Our Series E and the future of Carta
At Carta, we’re building an ownership network that changes how assets are acquired, valued, and transacted. To propel Carta forward, we just raised our Series E.
Carta Series D pitch deck
We first shared our pitch deck in 2015, when we raised our Series A (we were then known as eShares). The deck we’ve shared here is our Series D deck, which evolved from our Series B and C decks. We hope you’ll check it out, and see how our story, business, and brand have evolved.
Data & research
The state of private company financing in 2018
In 2018, tech news has been dominated by seemingly endless stories of another “unicorn” raising a colossal round. These valuations are fueled by VCs raising huge funds earmarked for late stage companies. With increased access to capital, companies find staying private longer increasingly attractive. We decided to take a look behind these headlines and dig into the data.
The Gap Table: Analyzing the gender gap in equity
Much has been said about the gender pay gap, but most publicly available research focuses on only one part of compensation: salary. But in startups, wealth is created through equity ownership on the cap table.
The Carta 100 Index
Tracking the marketwide performance of US private companies and startups is difficult. Private companies are not required to disclose performance or valuation information to the public.
Equity education
What are non-qualified stock options (NSOs)?
Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) are a type of stock option that does not qualify for favorable tax treatment for the employee. Learn more about when you can exercise (buy) your shares, when you can sell them, and how they’re taxed.
What are incentive stock options (ISOs)?
ISOs are a type of stock option that qualifies for special tax treatment. Unlike other types of options, you usually don’t have to pay taxes when you exercise (buy) ISOs. Plus, you may be able to pay a lower tax rate if you meet certain requirements. Here’s what you need to know.
What you should know about direct listings
In a direct listing, shares are released directly from existing shareholders (employees and investors) to whoever wants to buy them. Learn why some private companies might explore a direct listing instead of an IPO.
Product education
Get option grant and 409A valuation approvals without leaving Carta
Carta already simplifies the option grant and 409A valuation processes for private companies, and now we’ve gone a step further. With our updated board resolutions product, we’re making it even easier to get board approval on option grants, 409A valuations, and any other resolutions or exhibits.
Meet Carta for Venture Capital
You’ve used Carta to accept securities and access cap tables. Now we’re building fund admin tools that will change the way you run your back office.
How to write a great investor update
As your company grows, things change quickly. You need to keep your investors up to date but that can be tedious and time-consuming. Carta makes this easier with our newest feature—investor updates.
From our CEO
Fund admin is broken
With Carta, VCs can see real-time IRR instead of waiting for quarterly updates, work with our experienced team, and run capital calls and share documents with LPs.
Twenty Minute VC featuring Henry
Two years ago, Harry Stebbings invited our founder and CEO, Henry Ward, on The Twenty Minute VC podcast. We’ve grown a lot since then, and Henry recently joined Harry again to chat about a range of topics.
Work @ Carta, get liquidity
Today, Carta is at a scale where we can offer liquidity every 12–18 months. All employees with vested shares are eligible.
How we work
Closing the gender gap in equity: How to fix historical errors in equity distribution
We want to help other companies address their historical equity imbalances. Here’s how we reviewed our own equity guidelines, and how we approached extending fix-it grants to employees.
A better job offer letter
At Carta, we spend a lot of time figuring out how to better educate employees about startup equity. We realized that the job offer letter itself was a good place to do this, so in 2016, we decided to reinvent the offer letter. Check ours out and download it to use as a template.
Introducing Execute, a podcast about Carta from a former employee
Execute is a podcast documentary about the history of Carta and a blueprint for anyone who wants to build a startup. It covers the ups and downs of fundraising, the cultural challenges that result from scaling headcount, and the overall transition from a small, focused team into a legit, revenue-producing company.
Partner stories
How to add unique value as a small VC fund: Lessons from Sinai Ventures
Focus on your differentiator Leverage your network Partner (don’t compete) with bigger firms Be bold Find efficiencies wherever you can
Tilray’s (regulated) road to IPO: Lessons from one of the first publicly-traded cannabis companies
Tilray is the first Canadian cannabis company to file for an initial public offering on a U.S. stock exchange, raising $153 million at $17 per share. We chatted with Tom about Tilray’s road to IPO, and their decision to choose Carta as a partner on this path.
1stdibs Tender Offer: “Carta did everything”
1stdibs, the world’s largest online luxury marketplace for one-of-a-kind high-end items, utilized Carta for their recent tender offer.
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