Navigating Startup Financing Dynamics

Carta is the backbone of most venture-backed startups. They have access to specific information about every single round, not just what's reported in TechCrunch. 

Today, Peter Walker, Carta's Head of Insights joins us to share the findings from Carta's Q2 reports. We go deep into data from pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds. We cover median valuations, time between rounds, graduation rates between rounds, the AI and repeat-founder premiums, and much more.

VCs know most of this data. Founders need to be equally well-informed. You won't want to miss this episode.

Why you should listen:

• What are the typical pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds.
• Why stacking SAFEs is very dangerous.
• How to minimize dilution in the early-stages
• What is standard founder ownership, founder equity splits and ESOP sizes.
• Why the graduation from Seed to Series A is so low and the bar for Series A so high.
• Many more data points for pre-seed to Series A Venture Capital and Startup data.

Keywords

startup ecosystem, fundraising trends, total fundraising, down rounds, bridge rounds, company shutdowns, pre-seed funding, seed funding, series A funding, valuations, round sizes, dilution, founder equity, early employees, equity compensation, seed round size, series A

Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:35)Findings from the Q2 Report
(00:06:12)Typical Pre-Seed Round
(00:07:29) Post Money Safe vs Pre-Money Safe
(00:11:54) AI and Repeat Founder Premiums
(00:15:03) Typical Seed Round
(00:17:07) Time & Graduation Rates Between Rounds
(00:22:08) Typical Series A
(00:28:14) Equity Splits
(00:35:02) Founder Ownership

Send me a message to let me know what you think!