Your equity questions, answered

Best practices and perspectives from startup experts, everything you need to know to unlock equity!

This Chatbot is intended to provide general information only and might have inaccuracies and errors. It is therefore not intended to be a substitute for professional, legal, or financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. By using this Chatbot, you affirm and accept that Cake is not liable for any damages or losses resulting from your dependence on the answers provided.

409A valuations, explained

Steve Allen, investor and founder of Allanytics, lays down the important facts about 409A valuations for startup founders.

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Structuring employee equity incentives

An overview of the process of issuing equity to investors and team members as a startup founder.

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Types of startup equity

Learn the different types of equity and how to use these instruments for your startup journey

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Founder equity and founder vesting

The three things you need to know as a founder about how to manage your own (and your partner's) equity.

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Sweat equity for advisors and contractors

Learn how to leverage equity to compensate early founding members, advisors, and contractors.

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Cap table mastery

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Cap Table

RESOURCE HUB

Your equity questions, answered

Cliff Notes

Equity Explained

409A valuations, explained

Structuring employee equity incentives

Types of startup equity

Founder equity and founder vesting

Sweat equity for advisors and contractors

Cap table mastery

10 Cap table mistakes startups make and how to avoid them

How to set up a clean cap table (and not mess it up!)

How to manage a growing cap table

What is a cap table and why does it matter to startups?

Advanced cap table modeling for startups

The best cap table management software for 2025

Learn why Sonny Tadhani, Robin's Founder and CEO, moved its cap table to Cake

Startup equity

The Cake Guide to Employee Stock Option Plans

Founder shares, founder vesting, and co-founder equity split

Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), a guide for startups

Understanding the real cost of 409A valuation

Restricted stock units: how it works and why it matters

Sweat equity: how it works and why it matters to startups

What happens to stock options when an employee leaves?

More guides

Founder shares, founder vesting, and co-founder equity split

BOI Reporting: A Startup's Guide to Beneficial Ownership Information

Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), a guide for startups

Understanding the real cost of 409A valuation

Stock options vs RSU: Which one is right for your startup?

SAFE vs. convertible note: a founder's guide to fundraising

Restricted stock units: how it works and why it matters

Understanding 83(b) elections

Convertible notes: the essential guide for startups

SAFE notes: a simple way to raise funds for startups

Non-qualified stock options: how it works for startups

Bare trust: understanding the basics and benefits

Hiring international employees

Raising capital in Australia, a checklist for startup founders

7 Costly and time-consuming capital raising mistakes to avoid

How to raise capital for your startup

Bootstrap or capital raise: which one is right for your startup

Shareholders agreement, explained

How much stock options to give employees

Sweat equity: how it works and why it matters to startups

Benefits of the EMI share option scheme

What happens to stock options when an employee leaves?

UK startup's guide to EMI schemes

EMI scheme setup and registration

Restrictions on EMI share options and why they matter

How to use your share registry to save your company’s runway

Start-up tax concession: a guide for Aussie startups

ISO vs NSO: understanding the key differences

How much are your stock options worth?

Understanding Rule 701

Phantom stock, explained

Best equity management software for startups

The best cap table management software for 2025

Startup equity split: how to distribute equity the right way

Startup stock options, a practical guide for founders

Understanding equity grants and how it works in startups

Advisory shares: what startup founders need to know

Cliff vesting: how does it work

Equity compensations for startups

409A Valuation: The essential guide for startups

Stock vesting, explained

Employee stock option plans, a guide for startup teams

Exercising stock options: the essential guide for startups

Contract templates

Equity doesn't have to be complicated. Join Cake and see for yourself!