In this episode, we’ll dive into the capitalization table, the spreadsheet that tells the full story of your startup.

What you’ll learn from this Venture Deals book summary episode:

• ​What a cap table is and why it’s the ultimate scoreboard for your company.

• ​How convertible debt, like notes and SAFEs, can make ownership messy and why founders need to track it early.

• ​How equity splits and dilution work across funding rounds, with simple examples showing how founder stakes change.

• ​Why transparency in your cap table is important to impress future investors and avoid deal-killing surprises.

Whether you’re raising your first round or preparing for later-stage funding, this episode shows how to keep your ownership clear, protect your stake, and make your company attractive to investors.