What Is a Convertible Note? Early-Stage Debt-to-Equity, Explained
A convertible note is short-term debt that converts into equity at the next priced round. Here's how interest, maturity, cap, and discount actually work.
Deal terms determine who wins in exit scenarios and how much control investors have over company decisions. Our deal-terms guides explain the economics and governance provisions founders encounter in seed through growth rounds.
Read venture capital deal terms explainers below.
A convertible note is short-term debt that converts into equity at the next priced round. Here's how interest, maturity, cap, and discount actually work.
A cap table is the single source of truth for who owns what in your company. Here's how to build, maintain, and model one for every round.
A bridge round is interim financing between two priced rounds. Here's when bridges help, when they signal distress, and how to structure them cleanly.
The board controls major company decisions. Here's how board composition, protective provisions, observers, and fiduciary duties work in VC-backed companies.
Pro-rata rights let investors maintain ownership by participating in future rounds. Here's how pro-rata mechanics, super pro-rata, and fund reserves actually work.
Pre-money + investment = post-money. It sounds simple, but option pool shuffle, fully diluted share counts, and SAFEs can destroy 5–10% of founder ownership in minutes.