The Cap Table

What an incredible day ?? ?? I just wrapped up an amazing Pickleball event during TECH WEEK by a16z, bringing together such an inspiring group of founders and investors for Red Beard Ventures and The Cap Table. The energy was unbeatable—great conversations, some friendly competition, and plenty of new connections! I do these events because I have seen the value that one conversation can have on your business, career, or your life. Huge thank you to our sponsors who made this all possible: ? Escalon Services, LLC ? Justworks ? Weinberger & Logan PC These events aren’t just about the game; they’re about building relationships, sharing ideas, and finding new ways to collaborate in the startup ecosystem. Thanks so much PhotoSesh - On Demand Content Creators for capturing the event! Looking forward to hosting many more events like this! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a success! ?? #LATechWeek #Startups #Investors #Pickleball #Networking Ibrahim Hafeez, Fernando Gouveia, Jason Goldberg, Aidan Gold, Dina Khattab, Jonathan Chang, Revan Lazarus, Aditya Bahl, Rachael Nomburg, PHR, Randall H., Bobby Weinberger, Ed Prado, Charlie Hanna, Ben Winston, Ala' Albatayneh, Johnny Reinsch, Keegan Rosenberger, Brian Horner, Adam Stansell, Lindsay Goeddel, and more! ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, startup insights, and maybe an invite to my next pickleball event!

Back in 2008 Airbnb put together a deck and pitched an idea to a group of investors —and today, it has a $73 billion market cap. How did they do it? This week on The Cap Table Newsletter I broke down the exact slides that took Airbnb from idea to $600K in seed funding—and how you can use the same strategy to nail your pitch. Here’s what your pitch deck needs: 1. The One-Liner 2. The Problem 3. The Solution 4. Market Size 5. Product Uniqueness 6. Traction & Business Model 7. Competitive Landscape 8. Go-to-Market Strategy 9. Team & Advisors 10. Fundraising & Use of Funds Your pitch deck is your story. Make it concise, clear, and compelling—just like Airbnb did. #startups #venturecapital #pitchdeck #fundraising #Airbnb ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights

So, you want to start Angel Investing and you have allocation in a deal...Now What? ?? When you first have the opportunity to invest in a deal whether via a syndicate or directly on the cap table, there are a few things you should pay attention to. 1. Valuation. Below I have put the average valuations that were shared by Carta in Q2, but obviously these change each quarter and are variable based on the industry the start-up is building in. Seed Stage: $15M Series A: $40M Series B: $116.3M Series C: $214.8M 2. Founder-Market Fit. The Secret Sauce Founder-market fit is everything. Does the founder have a unique edge in the industry? If they’re tackling fintech with a consumer goods background, you need to know why. The best founders are obsessed with solving the problem at hand. Look for that passion and expertise. 3. Product-Market Fit. Does the product solve a real problem for a significant audience? Check customer feedback, churn rates, and repeat usage. If the startup has an MVP, test it out. A small but loyal user base is a great sign. 4. TAM: Total Addressable Market (TAM) tells you how big this could get. A large TAM indicates huge potential but also fierce competition. Is this market ready for disruption? 5. Stage & Progress. Where Are They Now? The company’s stage will shape its risk and reward: - Seed Stage: Focus on the idea, team, and early customer validation. - Series A: Look for traction and a solid plan for scaling. - Series B and Beyond: Now it’s all about execution and market expansion. Can they deliver? What is the feedback they are getting from customers? 6. Deal Terms: Pay attention to if you have any of the following - Liquidation Preferences - Dilution - Bridge Rounds Getting allocation is just the first step. To truly win, you need to dive deep into valuation, founder-market fit, TAM, and deal terms. No two investments are the same, but with these insights, you’re on your way to making smarter decisions. #startups #angelinvesting #venturecapital #founders ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights

Are you a start-up struggling to close venture capital funding? What if I told you there’s more than one way to fuel your startup’s growth without giving up a chunk of your equity or waiting for a VC to give you a shot? Let’s break it down: 1?? Bootstrapping: Sara Blakely turned $5,000 into a billion-dollar empire with Spanx—all without external funding. The lesson? Sometimes, holding onto control and growing at your own pace can be the smartest move you make. 2?? Crowdfunding Remember Oculus? Before it was snapped up by Facebook for $2 billion, it raised $2.4 million on Kickstarter, proving that a strong community can be your most powerful investor. 3?? Revenue-Based Financing Spotify played the long game with convertible debt, securing capital while keeping equity intact. If your startup is generating steady revenue, this route could be a perfect fit. 4?? Blockchain Innovations Ethereum didn’t just build a platform—it pioneered the ICO model, raising $18 million in 2014. Today, it’s the backbone of decentralized finance. If you’re in the blockchain space, ICOs might be worth considering. 5?? Direct Public Offerings Ben & Jerry’s took their community love to the next level by allowing local Vermonters to invest directly in the company, securing funds and building loyalty at the same time. Sometimes, your best investors are right in your backyard. The key takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to funding your startup. Whether you’re bootstrapping, crowdfunding, or tapping into new frontiers like blockchain, the path you choose should align with your vision and values. Founders, here’s your challenge: Don’t just follow the crowd. Explore the options, weigh the pros and cons, and find the funding strategy that’s right for your business. Read this week's edition of The Cap Table Newsletter to dive deeper into these alternative fundraising strategies and find out which one might be right for you! #startups #venturecapital #fundraising #entrepreneurship #innovation ____ Enjoy this? Follow Elana Gold for venture capital, angel investing, and startup insights

I just hit 4K subscribers on The Cap Table Newsletter!!!! Welcome to all of the old & new readers??

WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Denarii Labs Cohort 2! Backed by Red Beard Ventures, we're offering a $100,000 investment for a 12-week remote program starting June 2024. The 12-week program will consist of education, mentoring, and guidance to cover all aspects of token launch preparedness – from ideation to launch. Open to projects across all chains and stages, this is your chance to accelerate your Web3 startup backed by the best! ?? Apply now and be among the early applicants: https://lnkd.in/geQ_iFKe #web3 #invest #accelerator #vc #venturecapital