Raising money
Cap table
A cap table, short for capitalization table, is the record of who owns what share of your company, including founders, employees with stock options, and every investor.
Also called capitalization table
Stock options are the right to buy shares later at a set price. It also lists every SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) or convertible note (a loan that turns into shares) not yet converted. A cap table that does not match the signed paperwork can slow a deal once investors check.
This is not legal or tax advice, check with a lawyer or accountant.
When this shows up
Example, not a real founder: during due diligence, the investor's check before a deal closes, an investor asks for the signed document behind each line of your cap table. One early advisor's shares were promised in a chat message and never put in writing.
What to do next
Match each line in your cap table to a signed document. List every line without one and get it signed or corrected.
Go deeper
Due diligence checklist for an early startup. What angels ask
A checklist ordered by what is most likely to stall a deal, with a status and a reason for each item.
Read the guideOr go straight to the tool