# Essential resources for early-stage founders

Explore our curated collection of articles, guides, and tools to help you grow your business—from pre-seed to Series A and beyond.

## Equity management

**Author:** The Carta Team  
**Date:** November 2025\  
**Featured article**  
**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.

**Equity Education**  
**Date:** January 2024  
**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**  
**Date:** August 2024  
**Fair Value (FV)**  
Learn what fair value means for stock, how to determine a stock’s value, and why 409A or IFRS 13 valuations are so crucial for private companies.

**Equity Management**  
**Date:** June 2026  
**Equity management explained for founders**  
As your company grows, equity management can get complex. This comprehensive guide explains the basics of equity management and why it is essential for startup success.

## Fundraising

[**How to start fundraising**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/startups/fundraising/)

[**Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE)**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/startups/fundraising/convertible-securities/safes/)

[**Pre-money SAFEs vs post-money SAFEs**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/startups/fundraising/convertible-securities/pre-money-vs-post-money-safes/)

[**Series A funding**](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/startups/fundraising/series-a/)

Are you ready to make the leap from seed to Series A?  
Get market insights and guidance from investors on fundraising in today’s climate.  
[Watch the webinar](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/events/seed-to-series-a/?ir=corps_founder-collections_mid1)

## Customer stories

Why Singapore-based Mito Health believes Carta is necessary for any startup  
[Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/customer-stories/mito-health/)

Why Umami Bioworks chose Carta over Pulley for its international startup  
[Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/customer-stories/umami-bioworks/)

How Carta helped Singapore-based iPiD fundraise with confidence while scaling  
[Learn more](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/customer-stories/ipid/)

## Popular tools

[**Pitch deck template**\ View tool](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/startups/fundraising/pitch-deck/#startup-pitch-deck-template-examples)

[**Cap table template**\ View tool](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/learn/resources/cap-table-template/)

[**SAFE calculator**\ View tool](https://safes.carta.com/)

[**Burn rate calculator**\ View tool](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/sg/en/burn-rate-calculator/)

## Equity compensation

**Author:** The Carta Team  
**Date:** August 2024  
**Featured article**  
**Option pools**  
A stock option pool’s size affects share prices, ownership dilution, and company value. Here’s what you need to know to calculate an employee option pool.

**Equity**  
**Date:** December 2025  
**How stock options work**  
Learn the fundamentals of stock options, including the different types, how they are granted and vested, and the process for exercising and paying taxes.

**Compensation**  
**Date:** March 2026  
**Employee compensation: A founder's guide to compensation packages**  
Learn how to build a competitive employee compensation package to attract top talent and stay compliant as you scale.

**Compensation**  
**Date:** March 2026  
**Compensation philosophy: Creating a framework for compensation**  
Learn how to create your first compensation philosophy, a clear framework that will help you make consistent decisions regarding compensation as you build your team.