Vesting Schedule, Cliff, Acceleration: The Complete Guide to Startup Equity Vesting
Vesting defines when you actually own your equity. Here's how 4-year schedules, 1-year cliffs, single/double-trigger acceleration, and early exercise work.
Raising startup funding requires matching your stage, traction, and sector to the right investors. Our startup funding resources cover everything from first checks to growth rounds — with actionable guidance for founders navigating today's market.
Explore startup funding articles to sharpen your raise and find investors who fit your company.
Vesting defines when you actually own your equity. Here's how 4-year schedules, 1-year cliffs, single/double-trigger acceleration, and early exercise work.
Venture debt is non-dilutive capital on top of a priced equity round. Here's how term sheets, warrants, covenants, and drawdown mechanics actually work.
A term sheet is a non-binding document outlining the key terms of a proposed VC investment. Here's every section that matters and which terms to negotiate first.
Syndicates let angels pool capital into a single investment vehicle. Here's how SPVs work, who leads syndicates, and what founders should watch.
A SAFE is a convertible financing instrument created by Y Combinator that converts into equity at a priced round. Here's exactly how valuation cap, discount, and MFN work.
A moat is a durable competitive advantage. Here are the seven moats VCs actually underwrite — network effects, switching costs, scale, brand, IP, distribution, and data.