// Cap Table Management and Why it Matters NOW

Founders at the early stage don't pay enough attention to their cap tables.

They raise their first round(s) on a SAFE not understanding the implications of stacking SAFEs or how diluted they'll actually be when they get to an equity round.

They'll give away 5% here or there for a little bit of cash or to someone they think will be a helpful vendor or accelerator, but they turn out to only be in the mix for a very short time and don't add as much value as they thought.

They'll take a lot of small checks and allow everyone to be a line on the cap table, so the number of people needing to be managed, answered to, advised, etc., gets super complicated.

Excel, Google Sheets, or "my lawyer has it" is NOT the answer.

So then you look to cap table management systems.

There's one that is a "household" name in the startup world, and they're great. A couple of my founders have used it, and as an investor, it's easy to use and access. But it's expensive, and most founders I talk to find it very complicated, and are really glad when it's done.

Then there is the new kid on the block, Global Shares.

I was introduced to them a few years ago and loved them because they're an Irish company founded not far from where Blood Monkey Gin was born and made. J.P. Morgan has purchased them, and I have been so impressed with the product, growth, and service.

And the thing that REALLY impresses me is this:

It's FREE for up to 100 lines in your cap table.

But it's not a self-serve situation, where, ok, yeah, it's free, but you have to figure it out yourself, and you can never get any help.

A Global Shares team member will onboard you and input all of the data on your rounds and shareholders into the platform, ensuring accuracy.

Once it's in there, the most useful tool is running future scenarios. You can look at "what ifs." What if I raise another SAFE? What if I raise an equity round? What if I give employee shares? What if I give out advisory shares? What if I raise $5MM? What if I raise $20MM?

I know what you're thinking: what's in it for J.P. Morgan? Why are they offering this beneficial and valuable tool for free?

Frankly, they want startups to use their banking services now (I think they have an incredible Startup Banking team and offering, personally) and down the line. They hope that when you are looking for a bank to help you grow, expand, borrow, sell, or go public, you'll think of them because you had a good experience with them early in your journey.

There's so much in startup life that has "a catch," so it's really nice to find something that doesn't.

PS - this is not sponsored in any way. Reach out if you want a direct intro.