Private markets are notoriously opaque, making it difficult for founders and venture capitalists to understand if their deal terms are market-standard or not. As the ERP for private markets, Carta is uniquely positioned to enhance transparency in the industry by analyzing and sharing data from our customer base.
Since the launch of our Insights team in 2021, we’ve done just that through hundreds of reports, articles, and presentations. But now we’re going one step further in making private market data accessible.
Today, we’re launching the Round Benchmarking Tool, an interactive data dashboard that features real data on VC round sizes, valuations, and dilution. Now anyone can go to our website and query Carta’s unique dataset on 20,000 equity rounds that U.S.-based startups have raised since 2021.
We’ve included filters for fundraising stage, company industry, metro area, and time period. These enable founders and investors to self-serve and build the most relevant benchmarks tailored to their situation rather than having to guess based on generic information.
Our data makes clear what many have anecdotally observed, such as that valuations have been on an upward trend across stages since 2023. The median post-money valuation at the Seed stage, for example, has risen over 40% from $15.0 million in 2021 to $21.6 million as of Q1 2026.
We will be updating the Round Benchmarking Tool every quarter with the latest Carta data, making it a living resource for the venture industry. As with our past reports, there is a bit of a data lag, so Q2 2026 data will be available in August 2026.
This is just the beginning, as we plan to build and share more interactive data experiences in the coming months. We hope you find it useful and look forward to receiving your feedback.
DISCLOSURE: This communication is on behalf of eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. ("Carta"). This communication is for informational purposes only, and contains general information only. Carta is not, by means of this communication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business or interests, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. This communication is not intended as a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Carta does not assume any liability for reliance on the information provided herein. © 2026 Carta. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited.
