Startup finance

What is an angel syndicate and how does it work? Learn how investors pool capital to back startups, plus the structure, benefits, risks, and how to join one.

What is DPI in private equity? Learn how to calculate Distributions to Paid-In Capital, interpret the metric, and compare it with TVPI and IRR for fund performance.

What are the stages of a private equity or venture capital fund? Learn how the fund lifecycle works—from fundraising and investment to value creation and exit.

What is IRR and how is it used in private equity and venture capital? Learn how to calculate Internal Rate of Return, interpret results, and avoid common pitfalls.

What is PME in private equity? Learn how Public Market Equivalent benchmarks private equity returns, how to calculate it, and when to use different PME methods.

What is venture capital and how does it fuel startup growth? Learn how VC funding works, investment stages, and the pros and cons for founders.

What is venture debt and how does it work? Learn about key terms, deal structures, strategic use cases, and when this non-dilutive funding makes sense in 2025.

Wondering who qualifies as an accredited investor in 2025? Explore the latest SEC rules, income and net worth thresholds, and paths to gain accredited status.

What is an anchor investor and why are they so valuable? Learn how they influence funding rounds, boost credibility, and how to attract one to your startup or fund.

Learn what general partners (GPs) do in partnerships and venture capital funds. Understand their responsibilities, compensation, and how they differ from limited partners.

Learn what limited partners (LPs) are, their role in investment funds, and how they differ from general partners. Includes LP types, rights, and investment strategies.

Learn everything about startup funding including funding stages, sources, and strategies. From bootstrapping to IPO, discover how to secure capital for your startup at every stage.

Angel investor syndicates let you co-invest with experienced leads. Learn how they’re structured, what lead investors do, key investment terms, and how to join through platforms like AngelList.

What is a bridge funding round and when should startups raise one? Learn how bridge rounds work, key deal terms, investor considerations, and smart negotiation tips.

Learn how drag along rights work in shareholder agreements, how they affect founders and investors, and strategies for negotiating balanced terms for all parties.

Learn how equity crowdfunding works for startups, including regulations, top platforms, campaign strategies, and how to attract non-accredited investors to fund your business.

What are equity warrants in startups? Understand their structure, how they’re valued, key exercise terms, and their strategic use in venture deals.

Learn how full ratchet anti-dilution works, its impact on founders, and strategies to negotiate better terms. Understand the mechanics and alternatives to this powerful investor protection.

Learn the essential components of investor due diligence with our complete checklist covering financial, legal, technical, and market analysis required before making investment decisions.

Understand investor information rights, their standard terms, implementation requirements, and best practices for management. Includes templates, compliance guidelines, and confidentiality provisions.

Discover how Micro VC funds operate, their unique investment strategies, and critical role in supporting early-stage startups and emerging entrepreneurs.

Learn how to create effective investor updates with our comprehensive template. Includes format guidelines, content recommendations, and best practices for startup communications.

Master the revenue multiple valuation approach for startups and established companies. Learn how to calculate, apply industry benchmarks, and understand what factors affect revenue multiples.

Learn what a seed extension round is, when startups should consider it, and strategies for securing this bridge funding to reach Series A readiness.

Master the critical startup growth metrics that drive success - from user acquisition and retention to CAC, LTV, and North Star metrics. Includes industry benchmarks and practical measurement methods.

Learn what tag along rights are, how they protect minority shareholders, and why they're crucial for investors in startups and private companies. Includes examples and comparison with drag-along provisions.

Explore unicorn startups and their billion-dollar valuations. Learn about growth trajectories, investment strategies, and what makes these rare companies disrupt entire industries.

Learn how weighted average anti-dilution protects investors during down rounds. Includes calculation formulas, examples comparing broad-based vs narrow-based methods, and implementation tips.

What is common stock in a startup? Learn how it differs from preferred stock, impacts founder equity, and ties into 409A valuations and shareholder rights.

Learn what convertible notes are, how they work for startup funding, key terms, and differences compared to SAFE notes and equity. Includes conversion calculations and examples.

Understand down round financing, when a startup raises capital at a lower valuation than previous rounds. Learn about causes, implications for founders and investors, and strategies to prevent or navigate a down round.

Learn how to structure an employee option pool for your startup, including optimal sizing, dilution management, and allocation strategies that attract top talent while satisfying investors.

Learn how equity dilution affects ownership stakes during funding rounds and strategies to protect against excessive dilution. Includes cap table analysis, anti-dilution provisions, and dilution modeling.

Learn how equity vesting schedules work, including standard structures, vesting cliffs, acceleration triggers, and best practices for founders and employees.

Understand how liquidation preferences impact startup exit proceeds. Learn about participating vs. non-participating preferences, multiples, caps, and negotiation strategies.

Learn what pre-seed funding is, typical amounts, sources of capital, investor expectations, and how to prepare your startup for this earliest funding stage.

Learn what pro rata rights are, how they protect investors from dilution, and why they matter in startup financing rounds. Includes implementation strategies and negotiation tips.

Learn everything about SAFE agreements for startup funding, including Y Combinator's templates, valuation caps, discount rates, and how they compare to convertible notes.

Learn what seed funding is, how the fundraising process works, common terms, and strategies to secure early-stage investment for your startup's growth.

Learn how to bootstrap your startup with proven methods, advantages, and strategies. Includes capital efficiency techniques, revenue generation approaches, and how to overcome common bootstrapping limitations.

Learn what Series A funding is, the requirements to secure it, how the process works, and which valuation metrics investors use to evaluate startups at this critical growth stage.

Learn how to calculate, monitor, and optimize your startup's burn rate. Includes formulas for gross and net burn rate, industry benchmarks, and strategies to extend runway.

How does a startup cap table work? Learn how to build, manage, and model your equity structure with examples, templates, and founder-focused best practices.

Learn how to calculate your startup's runway, extend your financial buffer, and implement effective burn rate management tactics for sustained growth.

Learn how to create a compelling startup pitch deck that attracts investors with our comprehensive guide covering structure, essential slides, examples, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Understand startup stock options, including types, vesting schedules, tax implications, and strategies to maximize your equity compensation package.

Learn what a startup term sheet is, its key components, and how to negotiate better terms. Includes templates, examples, and expert advice for founders and investors.

Learn the most effective startup valuation methods used by investors and founders. Includes valuation calculators, stage-specific approaches, and tips to increase your startup's worth.