Cap Table Math for Early Stage Deep Tech Startups | Deep Tech Catalyst

Welcome back to Deep Tech Catalyst, the channel where science meets venture!

We’re excited to welcome Daniel Franke, Investment Director at M Ventures!

Today, we’ll decode the intricacies of a Cap Table, exploring its importance for founders and investors and delving into the basic math behind it.

If you deal with pre-seed or seed rounds in Deep Tech, don’t miss this episode!

Let’s dive into it!

Host: Nicola Marchese
Guest: Daniel Franke
#DeepTechCatalyst

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:37) 🎙️ Introduction
(02:17) 📃 What is a Cap Table, and Why Is It So Important for Founders and Investors?
(08:27) 🍰 Common Stock vs Preferred Stock
(09:44) 🛡️ Liquidation Preferences
(11:36) 📃 Options 101
(13:06) 🧮 How a Cap Table Works in Early-Stage Startups
(19:35) 🤔 Pre-money Valuation
(24:10) 📈 From Pre-Seed to Seed
(27:39) 🚩 Can a wrong cap table be a red flag for a VC?

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KEY THEMES COVERED:

1. Introduction to Cap Tables: an overview of what a cap table is, emphasizing its role as a fundamental document that outlines the ownership structure of a company, detailing the distribution of shares among founders, investors, and employees.

2. Ownership vs. Control: a major theme is the distinction between ownership and control. While owning shares equates to a stake in the company, control aspects, such as governance, voting rights, and control provisions, are crucial for decision-making.

3. Components of a Cap Table: basics explanations are provided on the different items found in a cap table, including common stock, preferred stock, liquidation preferences, and options. This segment shows how each element affects the company’s equity structure and the implications for founders and investors during funding rounds.

4. Cap Table Math and Funding Rounds: the episode breaks down the mathematics behind cap table adjustments during pre-seed and seed funding rounds. It explains how valuations are determined, the impact of raising capital on ownership dilution, and the strategic importance of setting up a cap table that supports future growth and investment.

5. Cap Table and Red Flags for Investors: the final key theme involves the potential red flags investors look for in a cap table, such as misalignment of incentives, internal disparities in equity distribution, and the logistical challenges of managing a cap table with a large number of shareholders.

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