Your cap table is the most important part of your growing company.
If you’re a founder or CEO or even a CFO, you’ve probably heard this a million times. (At least, hopefully, you have.) There’s a reason that this is repeated like a mantra.
It’s simple, and it’s true.
It bears explaining this, because if you haven’t heard this before, or even if you have but you’re just not convinced, it’s the first thing you need to understand. Many people might instinctively think the idea is most important. Others might think their leadership abilities are the real driver of their business. And these are important parts, for sure, but they don’t compare to the cap table.
So, before we get into the incredible things that you can do with a great cap table – first let’s take a look at why cap tables are so important.
Why are cap tables so important?
A cap table is a document that shows the owners and the breakdown of ownership in a company.
An investor looks to make an investment in your company, in return for an ownership stake. Simply put, they give you money, and you give them shares.
So, it’s critically important for the investors to know how much those shares are worth. That depends on two things. How much the company is worth or will be worth. And how many shares have already been distributed, and the structure of the distribution.
It’s very hard to know how much a company will be worth – the world changes so quickly and is filled with plenty of great ideas. But with a single glance at a well-built cap table, they can see exactly what their investment is worth.
If you have a great idea, but your cap table is poorly constructed or is incomprehensible then the investor is more than likely going to pass. Because if your cap table is poorly designed, there is a much greater chance that you have made a serious mistake, or missed something in your ownership. You can have the best idea in the world, but if an investor can’t trust your cap table (or even read it), then you won’t get funded.
Investors also need to understand how diluted the company is. If they’re receiving 10,000 shares, is that 10% of the company or .01%? It directly impacts their return on investment, and therefore their decision making.
Now that you know why it’s so important to have a great cap table, hopefully, you are ready to upgrade to a dynamic and comprehensive cap table. Once you do, you’re ready to transform this essential tool into a valuable asset – one that can help you make the best decisions for your company.
Scenario modelling
What is scenario modelling?
Well, imagine that your fundraising round with investors went great. So great, in fact, that you have had an incredible amount of term sheets (offers and terms of investment). Even with just a choice of two or three, it can be an overwhelming decision to make.
The choices you make in investors directly impact the sustainability and success of your company. And with different amounts, and different terms, it can be hard to know which one is the best choice for you and your business.
At least, it was hard to know. With Global Shares’ cap table management software, all you need to do is click a few buttons, and you can see exactly how the new financing round will impact your company – how the valuations, investment, post-money, dilution, etc. all come together for the future of your company.
Waterfall analysis
It’s not just fundraising that you need to run scenarios for. Exit valuations are also an important part of the lifecycle of a company. You’re going to want to analyze all aspects of the exit, including breakpoint, sensitivity, and payouts.
With a great waterfall modelling tool, like Global Shares’, you can see at a glance and with just a few clicks, how each exit scenario impacts your share classes and top stakeholders.
Both of these important tools, if you tried to do them yourself, would take an immense amount of time – assuming that you have an expert who knows how to manually build these scenarios in the first place. And of course, mistakes can be made.
When it comes to such a major decision, you don’t want to leave anything to chance, and you want to make it as quick and easy as possible. With Global Shares’ cap table management software, you can make sure that your cap table is presentable, accurate and makes a great first impression to investors. And when they’re impressed, that same software will ensure you choose the best offer.
