Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 20 hours ago
Are you a founder building the next big thing? a16z speedrun backs founders at the earliest stages across tech, entertainment, and AI.
Apply to speedrun today – speedrun.a16z.com
What is a cap table and why does it matter? In this video, Mayowa Ajayi from a16z breaks down the essentials every founder, employee, and investor should know about capitalization tables, from equity ownership and share types to dilution and decision-making power.
A cap table (short for "capitalization table") is the foundation of understanding who owns what in a startup. Whether you're launching a company, joining one early, or considering investment, this living document tracks ownership percentages, equity types (common vs preferred), and how ownership evolves over time.
You’ll learn:
- The difference between common shares, preferred shares, stock options & warrants
- What liquidation preferences and pro-rata rights really mean
- Why the **option pool** is critical for hiring — and how it affects dilution
- How fundraising impacts ownership and control
- Why keeping your cap table clean, updated, and transparent is non-negotiable
📈 Understand your equity. Know your rights. Protect your upside.
💡 Are you a founder building the next big thing? Join Speedrun, the startup program designed to help founders move fast with capital, coaching, and community.
#startups #founders #startuptips #investoreducation #startupfunding #StartupBasics #a16z #speedrun
Are you a founder building the next big thing? a16z speedrun backs founders at the earliest stages across tech, entertainment, and AI.
Apply to speedrun today – speedrun.a16z.com
What is a cap table and why does it matter? In this video, Mayowa Ajayi from a16z breaks down the essentials every founder, employee, and investor should know about capitalization tables, from equity ownership and share types to dilution and decision-making power.
A cap table (short for "capitalization table") is the foundation of understanding who owns what in a startup. Whether you're launching a company, joining one early, or considering investment, this living document tracks ownership percentages, equity types (common vs preferred), and how ownership evolves over time.
You’ll learn:
- The difference between common shares, preferred shares, stock options & warrants
- What liquidation preferences and pro-rata rights really mean
- Why the **option pool** is critical for hiring — and how it affects dilution
- How fundraising impacts ownership and control
- Why keeping your cap table clean, updated, and transparent is non-negotiable
📈 Understand your equity. Know your rights. Protect your upside.
💡 Are you a founder building the next big thing? Join Speedrun, the startup program designed to help founders move fast with capital, coaching, and community.
#startups #founders #startuptips #investoreducation #startupfunding #StartupBasics #a16z #speedrun
