Insights

Your investor says you're keeping 80%. Your cap table says 55%. Here's what fully diluted capitalization means and the three things that shrink founder ownership.

Most founders sign their Series A closing docs without reading them. Here's what's actually in the five documents — and the provisions that follow you for years.

Investor counsel checks your minute book, board consents, stock ledger, and financials before every deal closes. Here's what to keep — and what happens when it's missing.

Standard VC diligence wasn't built for AI companies. Here's what to check in training data rights, IP ownership, and customer contracts before you wire.

QSBS lets qualifying startup founders exclude up to $15 million in capital gains from federal tax. Here's who qualifies, what changed in 2025, and why it starts at incorporation.

Delaware defaults to an $85,000 franchise tax bill most startups don't owe. Learn how to use the Assumed Par Value Method and pay as little as $400 by March 1.

A messy cap table can derail startup funding rounds and M&A deals. Learn the four mistakes founders make — and how to fix them before due diligence starts.

The top venture capital investors don't just write checks. Here's what separates the best VCs from the rest — and why it matters for founders choosing their investors.

Most founders focus on valuation and miss the provisions that matter most. Here's what no one tells you about term sheet negotiations until it's too late.