Invested by Aleph Carta CEO Henry Ward on the Death of CartaX, a Controversial AI Take, Only Hiring Missionaries & the EQ Mistakes That Break Companies
Nov 19, 2025
Henry Ward, the CEO and co-founder of Carta, shares insights into the platform that transforms cap tables and valuations. He discusses the controversial shutdown of CartaX and its implications for private market liquidity. Henry dives into AI strategies, emphasizing its potential to streamline accounting and eliminate manual data entry. He also reveals his hiring philosophy of seeking 'missionaries' over 'mercenaries' to foster commitment. With a focus on emotional intelligence and transparency, Henry outlines the importance of culture in scaling a tech company.
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Cap Tables Became A Networked Cloud Product
- Cloud cap table software replaced expensive manual legal work and unlocked a network effect.
- Users join for the tool but stay for the investor network that simplifies ownership and tracking.
Replace Services With Full‑Stack Software
- Replace entire service stacks with software instead of selling tools to incumbents.
- Build full-stack solutions that own the process and invest in CapEx to deliver better services.
Eliminate Human Data Entry With AI
- Automate data entry and document extraction so humans stop doing repetitive input.
- Use AI vision and agents to read documents, populate systems, and handle quality checks.