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The equity math, worked through
Real numbers, real mechanics — no filler. Every post uses the same engine that powers the calculators.
July 19, 2026 · 9 min read
Best Cap Table Software for Startups (2026)
Compare cap table software for startups: free modelling tools vs funded-stage systems of record. Try Foundily's free calculator.
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July 19, 2026 · 8 min read
Anti-Dilution Protection Explained: Down Rounds
Anti dilution protection resets conversion prices after a down round. See full ratchet vs weighted-average — model it with Foundily's dilution calculator.
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July 19, 2026 · 7 min read
What Is Phantom Stock? How It Works, With Examples
Phantom stock pays out like equity without issuing real shares. See how the payout is calculated, how it's taxed, and who actually uses it.
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July 18, 2026 · 8 min read
Participating Preferred Stock Explained (Examples)
Participating preferred stock lets an investor double dip at exit. See exactly how, with a worked cap table at two exit values and a comparison table.
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July 18, 2026 · 9 min read
Vesting Schedule Explained: Cliffs & Founder Vesting
How a vesting schedule works: the 4-year/1-year cliff standard, founder vesting, and single vs double trigger acceleration, with a worked example.
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July 17, 2026 · 9 min read
Pre-Money vs Post-Money Valuation Explained
Post money valuation confuses more founders than any other term sheet line. See the formula, real 2025 benchmarks, and how to convert between the two.
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July 17, 2026 · 8 min read
SAFE vs Convertible Note: Which Should You Use?
SAFE vs convertible note: compare interest, maturity dates, caps and MFN terms, then model your raise free with Foundily's SAFE calculator.
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July 16, 2026 · 7 min read
Pulley Alternative: Free Cap Table Tools Compared
Looking for a Pulley alternative? Compare Pulley's full cap table platform with Foundily's free modelling calculators and API — pick the right fit.
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July 16, 2026 · 9 min read
Convertible Notes Explained: Interest, Cap & Discount
A convertible note is a debt instrument that converts into equity. Learn the terms, the maturity risk, and the conversion math, then model one free.
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July 15, 2026 · 10 min read
How Does Dilution Work? A Guide to Equity Dilution
Equity dilution explained: what causes it, how it compounds across rounds, and why a smaller percentage often means a bigger prize. Model it free.
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July 15, 2026 · 8 min read
Cap Table Template: Free Example + How to Build One
A cap table template you can copy, plus a worked cap table example with founders, a pool, and a SAFE. Build yours with Foundily's free calculator.
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July 14, 2026 · 10 min read
Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP): Complete Guide
How an employee stock option plan works: vesting, cliffs, strike price, 409A valuation and exercising. The complete guide, with a worked example.
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July 14, 2026 · 8 min read
Preferred Stock vs Common Stock: Full Comparison
Preferred stock vs common stock, compared right: liquidation preference, voting rights, conversion and dividends — with a worked exit payout example.
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July 13, 2026 · 8 min read
7 Best Carta Alternatives for Startups (2026)
Looking for a carta alternative? Compare 7 real options for cap table software, from free modelling tools to full platforms of record.
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July 13, 2026 · 10 min read
What Is a Cap Table? The Complete Founder's Guide
A cap table tracks who owns what in your startup. Learn what it records, how fully diluted ownership works, and how to read one correctly.
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July 11, 2026 · 7 min read
SAFE vs priced round: what a $1M raise really costs in dilution
An '$8M cap' SAFE and an '$8M pre-money' priced round sound like the same deal. They're not — one gives away more ownership than the other for the identical dollar amount.
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July 11, 2026 · 8 min read
Liquidation preferences and the exit waterfall, explained
The same cap table can pay common stock nothing at one exit price and pay it the majority of proceeds at another. Here's the full three-stage waterfall, worked through both ways.
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July 11, 2026 · 7 min read
The option pool shuffle: why the pool dilutes you, not your investor
A round that 'sells 20% for the money' can cost founders 30 points of ownership. The gap is the option pool — and it's created pre-money by convention, which means you pay for it, not your investor.
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July 11, 2026 · 6 min read
How a post-money SAFE actually converts (with real numbers)
A post-money SAFE's ownership percentage is fixed the day you sign it. Here's the exact math for what happens to that percentage when the priced round finally shows up.
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