# Curated resources for private equity teams—from analysts to CFOs. Explore expert-written articles, guides, and tools to help you start a private equity firm, close your first fund, understand portco equity, and everything in between. ## Getting started Author: The Carta Team Date: March 2026 featured article Private equity: The engine of transformative capital Learn the fundamentals of private equity, including how funds are structured, common investment strategies, and the operational mechanics of value creation and fund administration. Investors September 2024 How to start a private equity firm Learn how to start a private equity firm—from defining your investment strategy to raising capital and conducting a first close. Private Funds February 2026 Understanding private investment funds: An inside look Private investment funds are the backbone of the private markets. Learn the basics of private funds, including how they’re structured, managed, and regulated. Investors September 2024 Private equity fund structures Understand the most common entity structure for private equity firms and their funds—the limited partnership—including key legal and tax implications of this type of PE fund structure. ## Ownership Trends in Private Equity Authors: Kevin Dowd & Ashley Neville Date: November 2024 featured article SPV Spotlight: Private Equity Edition 2024 The number of special-purpose vehicles has grown in recent years, and the size of SPVs is growing—a sign of their growing appeal among private equity and venture capital firms. Data & Research September 2024 Ownership trends in private equity: 2024 Our second annual Ownership Trends in Private Equity report provides a status update on the progress private equity has made toward the commitment to expand employee ownership. Virtual Event September 2024 Insights from the 2024 Private Equity Ownership Trends Report Join Peter Walker and Hamza Shad, who lead Carta’s Data Insights Team, Dana Zhang, PE business development manager at Carta, and Shiv Narayanan, host of the “Private Equity Value Creation Podcast,” for a deep dive into value creation through employee equity. Issue Briefs March 2024 Building the ownership economy: Issue brief Employee ownership should be a standard part of employee compensation and business strategy across sectors and industries. ## Waterfall Modeling [**Waterfall Modeling: A Complete Guide**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/private-funds/management/waterfall-modeling/) [**What is a waterfall analysis?**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/exit-strategies/waterfall-analysis/) [**Waterfall Modeling Glossary**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/resources/waterfall-modeling-guide/) Waterfall models, done in seconds In a single click, create waterfall models that are accurate, transparent, and customized to your operating agreement. ## Customer Stories [**How Kayne Anderson uses Carta to manage its private equity portfolio**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/kayne-anderson/) [**Relativity chose Carta's LLC platform to help manage its equity program**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/relativity/) [**How Base10 turns fund admin into a strategic advantage with Carta**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/base-10/) [**How Carta makes phantom equity simple for Athena LLC**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/customer-stories/athena/) ## Equity Deep Dives Author: The Carta Team Date: September 2024 featured article Rollover equity Learn how rollover equity works during PE M&A deals, including advantages, disadvantages, and tax treatment for buyers and sellers. Equity Compensation November 2025 Profits interest Profits interest can give LLC members a share of future growth with tax-free grants and long-term capital gains treatment. Learn how to set up and manage them. Equity Management November 2025 Phantom equity Learn how phantom equity plans incentivize and retain key employees without diluting ownership. This guide covers mechanics, tax implications, and crucial risks for private companies considering implementation. Compensation February 2020 Private equity vs. public equity Job offers often include base salary, bonuses, stipends, and shares. Here's how to value a compensation package including private equity or public equity.