# Our curated collection for early-stage founders Get inspired and level-up with articles, guides, and tools to help you go from pre-seed to Series B—and everything in between. ## Getting started **Author:** The Carta Team **Date:** January 2026 **Featured article:** **How to start a startup:** A clear path for founders Learn the foundational steps to start your startup, from finding a problem and building a team to setting up your legal structure and raising your first funds. **Founder Education** **Date:** February 2024 **Building your founding team:** In this article, we’ll cover the various startup positions, when to bring on which type of founding team member, and general guidelines to help you build your founding team. **Founder Education** **Date:** January 2024 **Startup metrics and KPIs:** This glossary covers the basic startup metrics and startup KPIs to know and when to use them to help grow your business. **Founder Education** **Date:** September 2024 **Startup accelerators:** Joining an accelerator can be a game-changer, providing startups with mentorship, resources, and funding at a key moment in their development. ## Popular tools [**Cap table template**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/resources/cap-table-template/) [**Option pool calculator**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/resources/option-pool-calculator/) [**QSBS calculator**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/resources/qsbs-calculator/) [**Pitch deck template**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/fundraising/pitch-deck/#startup-pitch-deck-template-examples) ## Building a team [**How to find a co-founder for your startup**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/founding-team/co-founder/) [**A founder’s guide to selecting a startup law firm**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/founding-team/law-firms/) [**How to find a startup advisor**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/founding-team/advisor/) [**Board of directors (BoD): What founders need to know**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/private-companies/board-of-directors/) ## Video courses **VIDEO COURSE** Learn about the ins and outs of startup fundraising. **VIDEO COURSE** Understand cap tables from the founder’s chair—from incorporation to the exit of a fictional company. **VIDEO COURSE** Ready to create your first cap table? Begin the journey of a fictional company as we build a cap table from scratch... ## Fundraising **Interact with Carta data using the Round Benchmarking Tool:** Discover real-time insights on round sizes, valuations, and dilution with Carta's Round Benchmarking Tool. **In a slow fundraising environment, investors spy an opportunity for emerging managers** In the midst of a relatively stagnant fundraising environment, emerging fund managers may have an appealing value proposition to present to LPs. **How PE firms are investing in AI amid a once-in-a-generation boom** PE firms typically don't invest in the sort of high-growth startups that dominate the AI market today. But that doesn't mean PE is sitting out the AI revolution. **State of Private Markets: Q1 2026** Venture capital is making a comeback, with $30.4 billion raised in Q1 2026... ## Equity management **Cap tables** This guide explains everything you need to know about cap tables, from building your first one to managing company ownership as you prepare for fundraising and growth. **409A Valuations:** Learn everything you need to know about 409A valuations including what they are, when you need a valuation... **Equity management explained for founders** As your company grows, equity management can get complex. This comprehensive guide explains... **Fair market value (FMV)** Learn about fair market value, what it means for stock, how to determine... **Co-founder equity split** Finding an equity split that all co-founders are comfortable with is complicated. **Equity glossary** Carta's ever-growing glossary of financial and private equity terms will help you understand the jargon that frequently comes up in the industry. **Equity in business:** A founder's perspective Learn the fundamentals of company equity, including the different types you will issue... ## Taxes [**Fund tax complexity: What your fund structure actually requires**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/blog/fund-tax-complexity/) [**Share tax estimates with your LPs every quarter**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/product-updates/share-tax-estimates-lp/) [**IFRS 2 Share-based Payment: Preparing your ESOP for audit in Singapore**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/blog/ifrs-2-share-based-payment/) [**What Hong Kong’s “big bang” tax cuts mean for your fund**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/blog/hong-kong-carried-interest/) ## Founder stories ### Mivien Labs [Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/mivien-labs/) ### Dapple Security [Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/blog/fundraising-files-dapple-security/) ### Coffee Resurrect [Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/coffee-resurrect/) ### Heylist [Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/blog/fundraising-files-heylist/) **Try Carta Launch:** Issue equity and SAFEs, track ownership, and manage your cap table... ## Valuations [**Interact with Carta data using the Round Benchmarking Tool**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/data/round-benchmarking-tool/) [**As PE’s exit math changes, investors are finding new ways to drive portfolio growth**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/data/pe-exit-math-changes/) [**How PE firms are investing in AI amid a once-in-a-generation boom**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/data/pe-investing-in-ai-2026/) [**Portfolio holdings, now interactive in Claude**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/product-updates/portfolio-holdings-claude/) ## Compensation planning **Compensation philosophy:** Creating a framework for compensation Learn how to create your first compensation philosophy, a clear framework... **Understanding salary benchmarking for startups** Learn how salary benchmarking helps startups attract and retain talent... **Salary bands:** A startup founder’s guide Learn how salary bands provide fair, consistent pay tied to responsibility... **How stock options work** Learn the fundamentals of stock options, including the different types...