Founders’ guides to equity, valuations, and company growth.
From backing category-defining consumer brands to navigating the complexities of today’s AI-driven investment landscape, Lerer Hippeau has established itself as one of New York’s most influential early-stage venture capital firms. What sets them apart isn’t just their track record; it’s their philosophy of being a founder’s “first and most aligned institutional partner.” In this interview, …
Rule 701 allows companies to issue stock-based compensation without triggering the need to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Act of 1933. This is a very important exemption since the US regulatory framework places immense reporting responsibilities on registered companies. As an ESOP administrator, to qualify for Rule 701 benefits, …
Traditional 409A valuation reports have been the cornerstone of equity compensation compliance in the USA. These reports have shielded businesses from hefty IRS penalties for many years. But here’s the problem. Traditional 409A valuations can no longer keep up with the pace of modern businesses. The traditional 409A PDF report is a valuation snapshot you …
In an exclusive Eqvista interview, Frederik Sally, Co-Founder and COO of Interhuman AI, reveals how his Copenhagen-based startup is pioneering a social intelligence layer for AI to decode non-verbal cues like tone, body language, and pauses, elements comprising up to 93% of human communication. Frederick credits co-founder Paula Petcu’s decade in brain health tech for …
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has maintained its position as a leading investor across multiple sectors, making it one of the world’s famous venture capital firms. Founded in 1977, NEA has built an impressive track record with over 280 portfolio companies reaching IPO and 99 achieving unicorn status. The firm’s portfolio includes leaders like Cloudflare, Coursera, …
The Eqvista SaaS Index 2026 tracks valuation trends, investor sentiments, and growth velocity across the global and regional software-as-a-service (SaaS) landscape. In the current VC landscape, where investors exhibit caution that’s not AI, understanding how valuations respond to market cycles is critical for founders planning funding rounds. Our analysis expands on public SaaS insights by …
In this latest edition of founder spotlight, Eqvista features Randy Allen, Co-Founder and CEO of Still Bright, a hard-tech startup transforming how the world produces one of its most critical resources: copper. Drawing on a deep background in chemical engineering, materials science, and venture investing, Randy is leading Still Bright’s mission to close the looming …
The funding market has been on fire owing to the AI revolution. This makes it important to understand what is transpiring in the US VC market. This article aims to achieve the same goal using the November 2025 VC deals as its source. Number of AI companies by funding type, funding raised and Multiples Figure …
As we approach 2026, founders must prepare for critical tax filing deadlines, missing which could trigger penalties. To ensure that businesses with complex structures and sole proprietors have ample time to file tax forms, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has different tax filing deadlines for businesses with different corporate structures. So, C-corporations and sole proprietors …
Eqvista spotlights Mitesh Agrawal, CEO of Positron AI, to explore the shift from GPU-dominated AI infrastructure to purpose-built inference hardware that delivers 3-3.5x better performance per dollar and up to 66% lower power usage. Mithesh shares his journey from scaling Lambda’s GPU cloud to leading Positron’s FPGA-proven, US-manufactured systems optimised for Transformer models. He details …
I’m pleased to announce my acceptance into the Forbes Finance Council, an exclusive, invitation-only community of accomplished finance executives, entrepreneurs, and investors shaping the future of global capital. It’s an honor to join this distinguished group and contribute to its mission of advancing thought leadership and innovation within the industry. Why I’m Joining the Forbes …
Priorities spiraling out of alignment is a reality that most business partners don’t anticipate or underestimate. When this occurs, stakeholders may consider buyouts as a solution. This helps preserve business relationships and avoid prolonged legal disputes. However, when buyouts are not feasible or excessive, some may resort to manipulation of ownership. From aggressive stock-based compensation …
Private equity firms may find relief in the fact that global dry powder has steadily declined since 2023, reaching $2.52 trillion by July 1, 2025. While global M&A volumes fell 9% in the first half of 2025 on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the stabilization of tariffs and trade policies could pave the way for renewed …
Eqvista’s latest founder interview features Robin Binder, the founder of NAO, a fintech platform reshaping access to alternative investments for everyday investors. In this conversation, he explains how NAO leverages regulation, technology, and design to lower entry barriers to as little as 1, while still maintaining institutional-grade standards around product selection, compliance, and risk transparency. …
At Eqvista, we’re committed to empowering founders with the tools and resources they need to build sustainable, scalable businesses. While equity financing remains a cornerstone of startup growth, we recognize that today’s founders need access to diverse capital strategies that preserve ownership and extend runway. That’s why we’re excited to announce our strategic partnership with …
Seasoned investors are aware of the importance of the dilution-related insights gained through cap table solutions. However, the benefits of such software to a startup founder are arguably much more significant. Not only does this software enable real-time ownership tracking, but it also simplifies stock option management and tax compliance. It can also catalyze the …
When selling your business, deciding between SDE and EBITDA can significantly impact your valuation. While Main Street deals love Seller’s Discretionary Earnings for its raw, owner-centric truth, Wall Street speaks fluent EBITDA for its clean, scalable story. Choose wrong, and you’ll either confuse sophisticated buyers or undersell to local competitors. Choose right, and you’ll position …
Magnus Grünewald is the CEO and co-founder of Lyceum, a Berlin- and Zurich-based startup building a sovereign European GPU cloud to democratize AI compute access amid Europe’s infrastructure lag. In the recent Eqvista interview, he shares how his background in energy and infrastructure at Enpal and Arbio fueled Lyceum’s launch, envisioning AI as the next …
Startups usually raise enough capital to operate for about 24 months. But when that runway ends, investors expect evidence of either product-market fit or rapid scaling to justify the next round. The danger is treating those 24 months as breathing room. Instead, think of the first 3 months as your window to prove scalability. Then, …
Why do some founders walk out of investor meetings with a check, while others leave with a list of doubts to prove wrong? The real reason could be hidden in the very first question. When startup founders pitch, not all are given the same opportunity to shine. Investor questions decide who gets a chance to …
Over 23,000 companies use Eqvista to simplify equity, stay compliant, and scale—whether hiring their first employee or closing their next round.