Ghada Ismail

If you're launching a startup or thinking about raising funding, one term you’ll quickly come across is the cap table—short for capitalization table. While it may sound technical, it’s actually a straightforward but critical tool that every founder, investor, and early employee should understand.

In Simple Terms

A cap table is a spreadsheet or digital dashboard that shows who owns what in a company. It details the equity ownership, types of shares, and how that ownership changes over time, especially after funding rounds, stock option grants, or exits.

Think of it as the official scorecard of ownership in your startup.

What Does a Cap Table Include?

At its core, a cap table typically shows:

• Founders’ ownership
• Investor equity stakes
• Employee stock options
• Total shares outstanding and fully diluted

The more a company grows and raises capital, the more complex the cap table becomes, especially after multiple funding rounds and equity-based compensation.

Why It Matters

A cap table isn’t just for compliance; it’s essential for decision-making. It helps you:

• Negotiate with investors by clearly showing who’s getting diluted
• Issue stock options to employees with transparency
• Plan exits or acquisitions with a clear view of payouts
• Stay ready for due diligence during fundraising or M&A

Messy or outdated cap tables can delay deals or, worse, it can cost you trust with investors.

When to Set It Up

Early. Ideally, the moment your startup incorporates and issues shares to founders. As you bring on co-founders, advisors, or early team members, keeping your cap table clean and updated avoids painful headaches down the line.

There are plenty of tools today—like Carta, Pulley, or Eqvista—that help automate and manage your cap table securely and accurately.

Popular Cap Table Tools

Managing a cap table manually in Excel might work for the first few months, but it gets messy fast. That’s where dedicated tools come in. Here are three leading platforms startups use to simplify and professionalize equity management:

1. Carta

One of the most widely used platforms globally, Carta offers cap table management, scenario modeling, and investor reporting. It’s trusted by many VC-backed startups and is especially helpful for companies scaling fast or preparing for funding rounds.

2. Pulley

Pulley is built with early-stage startups in mind. It’s clean, intuitive, and affordable, making it great for first-time founders who want clarity on dilution and equity planning. It also offers support for SAFEs, options, and pro-forma modeling.

3. Eqvista

Eqvista is a robust yet cost-effective alternative, offering full-featured cap table tools, company valuations, and compliance support. It’s especially popular among startups outside the U.S. and provides personalized support for smaller teams.

Wrapping things up…

Your cap table tells the story of your startup’s ownership, and over time, that story evolves. Whether you’re raising your first round or preparing for a major exit, a clean and well-maintained cap table is more than a spreadsheet—it’s a strategic asset.