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Angel Investor vs. Venture Capital: Which One Is Right For You?
By Carine Schneider
When it comes to investing in a company, there are various types of equity investors, and understanding what each means is better for your business. It not only helps you determine which type of investor you want to pursue but also how to best pitch your business model in order to gain their interest. In … Continue reading Angel Investor vs. Venture Capital: Which One Is Right For You?
Read MoreLuxury Travel Hackers Ditches Excel to Adopt Astrella Full-Service Equity Management Platform
By Carine Schneider
When Gary Kohn founded Luxury Travel Hackers in 2019, he certainly did not predict having his initial business plans thwarted by a global pandemic. While many travel and tourism businesses were going under due to travel restrictions, Kohn was lying in wait. He knew that travel would come back with a vengeance, so he used … Continue reading Luxury Travel Hackers Ditches Excel to Adopt Astrella Full-Service Equity Management Platform
Read MoreTop 5 Cap Table Management Tips For Business Owners
By Carine Schneider
A capitalization table, or cap table, is essential for businesses, showing equity ownership capitalization and information that is necessary for financial decision-making. Given the information included, cap tables require excellent management to ensure it’s all an accurate portrayal of your company’s overall capital structure for growth and potential future investors. At Astrella, we’ve made it … Continue reading Top 5 Cap Table Management Tips For Business Owners
Read MoreWhat Is A Cap Table In Private Equity?
By Carine Schneider
A capitalization table, or cap table, is necessary for any startup or business as it helps to organize and display the company’s equity ownership. It also helps track things like convertible securities, stock options, and stock compensation grants. Ensuring your cap table is well-maintained, organized, and clearly defined will accurately represent the company’s current market … Continue reading What Is A Cap Table In Private Equity?
Read MoreWhat is Cap Table Restructuring?
By Carine Schneider
A capitalization table, or cap table for short, is excellent for businesses to track investors and equity ownership, employee stock option plans, displaying the percentage of ownership of various shareholders, and more. While cap tables are extremely useful for businesses, they can also become overly complicated, especially for larger organizations. A cap table that is … Continue reading What is Cap Table Restructuring?
Read MoreHow Cap Table Planning Can Benefit Your Startup
By Carine Schneider
If you have recently launched a company or are in the early stages of developing one, you have probably heard of a cap table, or capitalization table, and wondered whether it is necessary for your startup. Startups commonly use cap tables to display their total ownership capitalization or equity capitalization. The intricacy of a startup’s … Continue reading How Cap Table Planning Can Benefit Your Startup
Read More5 Ways to Professionally Manage Your Financial Assets
By Carine Schneider
Your business is growing—that’s great news! It also means it’s time to triple-check that you’re protecting your assets and managing your finances in a scalable way. Here’s how. By Deanna Ritchie This story originally appeared on Due Your business is growing—that’s great news! It also means it’s time to triple-check that you’re protecting your assets and managing … Continue reading 5 Ways to Professionally Manage Your Financial Assets
Read MoreG2 – Best Equity Management Software
By Carine Schneider
G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in their ratings and reports. Equity management software facilitates the administration of a company’s equity, or its assets minus its liabilities. Learn how Astrella rates with users on G2!
see our G2 ReviewsWhat Do Investors Look For in a Cap Table?
By Carine Schneider
Investors contribute to a business in hopes of receiving substantial profits, and they can easily determine the health of the business and whether to invest by looking at the cap table. Of course, investors don’t only care about profits. Investors are also looking at the information within the cap table to find any red flags … Continue reading What Do Investors Look For in a Cap Table?
Read MoreWhy Do Companies Need a Cap Table?
By Carine Schneider
Businesses are mushrooming daily, and some do not possess the professional intelligence required to maintain them. Cap tables are essential to any company, whether big or small. Companies go through various transitions that are key to their development. Maintaining well-organized documents such as a cap table is necessary for the overall function and easy understanding … Continue reading Why Do Companies Need a Cap Table?
Read MoreWhat is a Dilution Cap Table?
By Carine Schneider
A cap table is an abbreviation for a capitalization table. A capitalization table in many cases is private information to a company that shows its ownership shares, investment, and market value. The spreadsheet breaks down the company’s equity ownership capital information which includes: Common equity shares Preferred equity shares Warrants Convertible equity A cap … Continue reading What is a Dilution Cap Table?
Read MoreExpert to Exit
By Carine Schneider
Building Your Inner Circle You’ve built an amazing company, and now it’s time to get to work helping it grow. In addition to optimizing processes and creating new marketing plans, this is a good point at which to consider your inner circle and how they impact the success of your business. This may contain anyone … Continue reading Expert to Exit
Read MoreRSA vs RSU: A Comprehensive Comparison
By Carine Schneider
When it comes to employee equity compensation, there are two main types of options that companies can consider: restricted stock awards (RSA) and restricted stock units (RSU). Both have benefits and drawbacks that should be considered when making a decision. We have compiled an informative comparison of both stock options, as well as the best … Continue reading RSA vs RSU: A Comprehensive Comparison
Read MoreProfit Interest Units: What Every Business Owner Should Know
By Carine Schneider
If you own a small business and need to make profits, you may resort to cutting down employee compensation. But you’ll need an alternative means to boost employee satisfaction, and profit interest units can provide a better solution. Profit interest is a form of equity compensation awarded to individuals for their services in an organization … Continue reading Profit Interest Units: What Every Business Owner Should Know
Read MoreWhat is a Stock Option Grant Agreement?
By Carine Schneider
A stock option is the most prevalent form of equity compensation for startups. Executive remuneration used to include cash in the form of salary increases and bonuses. However, thanks to stock option plans, employees can now benefit from the company’s success without costing them any of their hard-earned cash. Employees must sign the Stock Option … Continue reading What is a Stock Option Grant Agreement?
Read MoreUp Your Investment Game as a Qualified Purchaser
By Carine Schneider
The 1929 Wall Street stock market crash led to the Great Depression, which lasted for ten years in the United States. Many investors and banks went bankrupt due to the rapid and severe aftermath of the crash. In response to the impact, the federal government adopted several policies, including the Securities Act of 1933 and … Continue reading Up Your Investment Game as a Qualified Purchaser
Read MoreLLC vs. C-Corp: Biggest Differences and Which to Choose
By Carine Schneider
Most entrepreneurs looking to start a cap table operate their businesses as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation. However, according to Internal Revenue Service statistics, LLC filings, compared to C-Corp, are growing at a much higher rate of approximately 4.2% annually. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how LLC and C-Corp are distinct … Continue reading LLC vs. C-Corp: Biggest Differences and Which to Choose
Read MoreVenture Capital vs. Private Equity: What’s The Difference
By Carine Schneider
When looking for outside financial backing for your business, venture capital and private equity would be your two choices that seem similar yet have significant differences. Their similar concept, which may make you consider them as one, refers to a firm that invests in private companies in exchange for ownership. Both are financial backings a … Continue reading Venture Capital vs. Private Equity: What’s The Difference
Read MoreThe Women’s Venture Capital Summit
By Carine Schneider
Carine Schneider was invited to speak at the Women’s Venture Capital Summit. It was a dynamic, two-day conference designed to forge valuable relationships between senior-level women in venture capital.
Read MorePreparing for your exit: Gearing up and getting out
By Carine Schneider
Curious what cap table intelligence can do for you? Get the guidance you need along every step of your business journey with these management tools.
Get your free checklistFrom founding to funding: mapping 4 key trail markers
By Carine Schneider
As a private company, much of your financial journey revolves around investors and funding. This world can be difficult to navigate; just because you have a great idea and are an expert in your field doesn’t mean you are prepared for the ins and outs of securing funding. With the right tools, you can see … Continue reading From founding to funding: mapping 4 key trail markers
Read MoreTaking Your Employees to the Top
By Carine Schneider
Managing employee stock programs can be a major challenge for early-stage companies. As a founder, you have a lot on your plate, and maintaining a stock program can take up more hours in the day than you are willing—or able—to sacrifice. But with the right platform, an employee equity program doesn’t need to be prohibitively … Continue reading Taking Your Employees to the Top
Read MoreIs a Cap Table Confidential?
By Carine Schneider
Often when people ask us about the confidentiality of a cap table they’re curious if there is a legal requirement to make their cap tables public. The answer to this question is no. In fact, most companies choose to keep their cap tables private and confidential. Even so, there are several parties within a company … Continue reading Is a Cap Table Confidential?
Read MoreDon’t lose your grip: Avoid complexity and Excel cap table management
By Carine Schneider
Using digital spreadsheets for your cap table adds layers of work to managing your financial data. One false keystroke can misrepresent real data, there can be multiple versions of the same spreadsheet on various devices, and it can be difficult to find the one source of truth that has correctly preserved your company’s equity information. … Continue reading Don’t lose your grip: Avoid complexity and Excel cap table management
Read MoreWhat Do Investors Look For in a Cap Table?
By Carine Schneider
As an investor, you want to know what you’re getting yourself into. The best place to start is with the prospective company’s cap table. A cap table is essentially a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet offers investors a quick glance into which shareholders own what, how much, and the best place for you to jump in. That … Continue reading What Do Investors Look For in a Cap Table?
Read MoreDoes an LLC Need a Cap Table?
By Carine Schneider
Limited liability companies (LLCs) are unique business entities that protect owners’ personal assets in the event that the business faces legal issues. Having a solid cap table management software helps keep LLCs in good financial order, regardless of the size to which it grows. LLCs may begin with one or two employees and grow into … Continue reading Does an LLC Need a Cap Table?
Read MoreAn Innovator | Carine M. Schneider
By Carine Schneider
Carine M. Schneider still remembers the first conversation when she decided to build Astrella. “When they say “we drew it on a cocktail napkin,” I really did do that. I had a vision on how we could build an ownership tracking system while integrating services and solutions from other providers in our ecosystem,” she elucidates. … Continue reading An Innovator | Carine M. Schneider
Read MoreCHALK TALK WITH CARINE
By Carine Schneider
Fundraising Strategies for Fast-Growing Companies Crowdfunding vs. Angel Investing vs. VC. 10 MARCH 2022: 11am PST / 1pm CST / 2pm EST / 6pm GMT Practical fundraising tips from the pros. Listen as two experts share their insights on properly navigating the world of venture capital, angel investing, and crowdfunding. What are the best fundraising … Continue reading CHALK TALK WITH CARINE
Read MoreScouting the Terrain: Mapping Your Climb with Cap Table Intelligence
By Carine Schneider
Starting a company is an exciting and often intimidating adventure. Making the climb from the company’s founding to a public offering or exit strategy can seem impossible. In fact, about 40% of businesses who say they are about to go public later realize that they are missing crucial data and are unable to reach an … Continue reading Scouting the Terrain: Mapping Your Climb with Cap Table Intelligence
Read More5 Habits To Ensure A Clean Cap Table
By Carine Schneider
When managing your capitalization table or, cap table, maintaining the precision and validity of its information should be top of mind. Whether your business is looking to increase investor acquisition, prepare your cap table for the next financing round, or predict capital gains with scenario testing, a “dirty” cap table will hold you back. But … Continue reading 5 Habits To Ensure A Clean Cap Table
Read MoreHow to Create a Cap Table: A Basic Overview
By Carine Schneider
As a start-up company, you’ll want to consider creating a cap table to manage your financial assets. However, tracking ownership, shares and various funding sources can become overwhelming quickly. Creating a capitalization table that offers the quick setup, security, and automation you need is the best way to ensure your business’s shareholders and employee stock … Continue reading How to Create a Cap Table: A Basic Overview
Read More3 Challenges in Growing the Private Market—and the Opportunities They Create
By Carine Schneider
The private market is often considered an exclusive club. While it may tout accessibility for everyone, only those with substantial personal wealth or connections can reliably find their way in through a secret door. In fact, there are many qualified “accredited investors” who don’t realize they can participate in this asset class, because they do … Continue reading 3 Challenges in Growing the Private Market—and the Opportunities They Create
Read MoreResponding to the Great Resignation: How an Employee Stock Program Can Alleviate Your Problem
By Carine Schneider
The Great Resignation is making many employers nervous about the future of their businesses. With 38 million workers leaving their jobs and 25 major companies experiencing employee strikes, 2021 highlighted a major labor shift in the U.S. Companies, however, are far from powerless in this shift and can use several tools available to them to … Continue reading Responding to the Great Resignation: How an Employee Stock Program Can Alleviate Your Problem
Read MoreCorporate CPR Episode 16: Integrating Blockchain Tech in Business Processes with Carine Schneider
By Carine Schneider
The link between blockchain technology & business corporations, alongside how finance is inventing new ways to make blockchain technology more useful and reliable in business is the topic of this podcast.
Read MoreCAPtivate21 at The Pearl in San Francisco
By Carine Schneider
Astrella hosted a few hundred alliances and leaders from the Private Market ecosystem for #CAPtivate21 at The Pearl in San Francisco. The event included a panel discussion and was also used to launch the new book from President of AST Private Company Solutjons, Carine Schneider “The Democratization of the Private Market.” “The CAPtivate was excellent … Continue reading CAPtivate21 at The Pearl in San Francisco
Read MoreThe SEC Thinks the Lack of Transparency in Private Markets Is a Risk to Investors. The Commission Wants That to Change.
By Carine Schneider
Industry experts talk about what’s next for private companies now that transparency is on the top of the regulator’s mind. November 08, 2021 Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg Founders, many of whom want to avoid the scrutiny of public markets, are choosing to stay private for longer than ever. Yet with a record amount of cash locked up … Continue reading The SEC Thinks the Lack of Transparency in Private Markets Is a Risk to Investors. The Commission Wants That to Change.
Read MoreEquity inequity: What is it, and why does it matter for your business?
By Carine Schneider
Employee compensation can be a complicated and multi-faceted puzzle. Even if a business has found a balance between profitability and employee satisfaction in salaries, they may have no idea how to approach stock awards. How many shares should a company grant its employees and how often? There are … Continue reading Equity inequity: What is it, and why does it matter for your business?
Read More3 must-haves in stock plan management software
By Carine Schneider
Before the dot-com boom of the late 90s, employees used to write checks to their employer when they decided to exercise their stock options. In return, the company would deposit the check and issue a paper stock certificate to the employee. Now that banking and financial management have mostly moved online, stock ownership is managed … Continue reading 3 must-haves in stock plan management software
Read MoreAstrella® and Forge Global Announce Strategic Collaboration
By Carine Schneider
MENLO PARK, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AST Private Company Solutions, Inc. (AST PCS) is announcing it has collaborated with Forge Global, a leading global private securities marketplace, to provide private companies with an integrated solution to manage company sponsored liquidity events and cap table administration. With this integration, companies that use Astrella to manage their stock … Continue reading Astrella® and Forge Global Announce Strategic Collaboration
Read MoreWomen Leading The Finance Industry: Carine Schneider of AST Private Company Solutions On The 5 Things You Should Do To Increase Your Financial Literacy
By Carine Schneider
“I also believe parents need to talk to their children about money and I think they need to be part of their child’s education. If parents are uncomfortable, find a family friend or relative who is willing to sit down with your children to explain how all this works.” As a part of our series … Continue reading Women Leading The Finance Industry: Carine Schneider of AST Private Company Solutions On The 5 Things You Should Do To Increase Your Financial Literacy
Read MoreFemale Disruptors: Carine Schneider of AST Private Company Solutions On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
By Carine Schneider
Astrella President Carine Schneider, FGE is known for shaking things up (in all the best ways!) She recently sat down with Authority Magazine as part of their new series focused on Female Disruptors. “Currently, I am focused on finding ways to expand the private market for investors. My focus over the next few years will be to support founders … Continue reading Female Disruptors: Carine Schneider of AST Private Company Solutions On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
Read MoreGEO’s 22nd Annual Conference
By Carine Schneider
14 September-07 October #ComeTogether Register for GEO’s 22nd Annual Conference, where you are one step closer to joining like-minded individuals for four weeks of compelling discussions and networking. Hear from industry leaders, including Carine Schneider, FGE, Astrella, on the challenges and solutions in today’s competitive market. GEO’s Annual Conferences are specifically designed with a focus … Continue reading GEO’s 22nd Annual Conference
Read MoreWant to get funded? The reality isn’t like TV. You’re going to need a cap table.
By Keith
We’ve all seen Shark Tank – the contestants go through elaborate preparations to quickly pitch television venture capitalists, attempt to make a deal, and get some buzz around their idea. One thing you don’t ever see is Mark Cuban asking to see well-managed cap table software and that’s where reality and TV start to separate. … Continue reading Want to get funded? The reality isn’t like TV. You’re going to need a cap table.
Read MoreEquality and equity are not the same, it’s time to talk about that
By Keith
As you build your company or brand — it needs to stand for something beyond simply photos of smiling people or a logo mark. It needs to have an ethos and meaning, an organizational culture that drives what you do and how you do it. At Astrella, we believe strongly in the concept of equity. … Continue reading Equality and equity are not the same, it’s time to talk about that
Read MoreQ3 Astrella Updates
By Keith
By Angela Vuong, Support Manager Time surely flies and COVID time seems to be slower or faster depending on the day! The team at Astrella has been working hard and we wanted to give you a quick brief on the top 5 feature releases of 2020’s third quarter. If you’re interested in learning about our … Continue reading Q3 Astrella Updates
Read MoreAstrella® Partner Ecosystem: Marketplace for Customers and Partners
By Keith
Author: Paul Arens, Head of Business Development and Partnerships “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” — Henry Ford From the early stages of creating Astrella, our goal has been “do what you do the best.” We began by building Astrella’s cap table management software with people who have … Continue reading Astrella® Partner Ecosystem: Marketplace for Customers and Partners
Read More10 Reasons Why Using Spreadsheets is a Bad Idea
By Keith
Capitalization tables (or cap tables) provide an analysis of a company’s percentages of ownership, equity dilution, and value of equity in each round of investment by founders, investors, and other owners. Developing a cap table and making related decisions can be complicated and overwhelming. Failing to have a clear picture of your company’s share ownership … Continue reading 10 Reasons Why Using Spreadsheets is a Bad Idea
Read MoreDefining blockchain basics and why it’s important
By Carine Schneider
Blockchain Fundamentals Many people confuse blockchain technology with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It’s an easy mistake to make so let’s distinguish between the two. Think of blockchain as the operating system providing the means to record and store transactions while Bitcoin is a digital security tracked on the application using blockchain technology. Blockchain technology, used by … Continue reading Defining blockchain basics and why it’s important
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