Direct Listings vs. Reverse Mergers vs. Traditional IPOs: Three Ways to Go Public
A traditional IPO raises $100M+ but costs 5-7% in fees; direct listings and reverse mergers are faster and cheaper but raise no capital.
#equity
Equity
Understanding owner equity, retained earnings, and shareholders equity on the balance sheet
Anti-Dilution Provisions, Explained: How Broad-Based Weighted Average Softens a Down Round
Broad-based weighted average reprices preferred stock partway to a down round's price; full ratchet resets it fully — founders absorb the difference.
Authorized vs. Issued vs. Outstanding Shares: What Each Count Means for Your Valuation, Your EPS, and Your Vote
Outstanding shares equal issued shares minus treasury stock — the only count that sets market cap, EPS, dividends, and votes.
DuPont Analysis, Explained: Splitting ROE Into Margin, Turnover, and Leverage
DuPont analysis splits ROE into profit margin × asset turnover × leverage — so a rising return you cannot trace to operations reads as borrowed, not earned.
Basic vs. Diluted EPS, Explained: What Each Share of Earnings Is Really Worth After Options, Warrants, and Convertible Debt
Diluted EPS assumes every option, warrant, and convertible note becomes shares; it is the worst-case number — value the company on it, not on basic EPS.
Cumulative Preferred Stock and Dividends in Arrears, Explained: How Missed Dividends Pile Up, Why Arrears Must Clear Before Common Holders See a Dollar, and Why They Stay a Footnote Until the Board Declares
Skipped cumulative preferred dividends stack up as arrears that must clear before common holders see a dollar — yet stay a footnote until declared.
Statement of Changes in Equity, Explained: The Fourth Financial Statement That Reconciles Profit to Ending Equity
Beginning equity plus profit minus distributions plus new capital equals ending equity — the statement that reconciles each dollar of movement.
Pre-Money vs. Post-Money Valuation: The Two Numbers That Decide What Your Startup Is Worth
Post-money equals pre-money plus the investment — and which number a term sheet quotes decides whether a $1M check buys 20% or 25% of your startup.
Good Leaver vs. Bad Leaver: What Happens to Your Founder Equity When You Leave
A bad-leaver exit can claw back vested founder shares at cost. Negotiate narrow cause, good-reason rights, and file IRS Section 83(b) in 30 days.
Single-Trigger vs. Double-Trigger Acceleration: What Happens to Your Vesting When Your Startup Is Acquired
Single-trigger vests your equity at closing; double-trigger also needs a qualifying termination within ~12 months. Know which your grant has.
Startup Advisory Shares, Explained: FAST Tiers From 0.1% to 1%, Two-Year Vesting, and When an Advisor Earns Options Instead of Cash
Advisors earn 0.1% to 1% on the FAST grid with two-year vesting; NSOs tax the spread at exercise, restricted stock needs a Section 83(b) election in 30 days.
Dual-Class Stock, Explained: How Founders Keep Control, Why Investors Discount It, and What Sunsets Change
Supervoting shares let founders control a company on a minority stake; investors discount the wedge unless a sunset restores one share, one vote.