Carta

Carta is a technology company specializing in capitalization table management and valuation software. Founded in 2012 by Henry Ward and Manu Kumar, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Carta's primary focus is to digitize and streamline the management of equity ownership for companies, investors, and employees.

The company's flagship product enables businesses to maintain accurate and up-to-date capitalization tables, detailing ownership percentages, equity dilution, and the value of equity in each investment round. By digitizing paper stock certificates, stock options, warrants, and derivatives, Carta provides a centralized platform for managing equity and tracking company ownership.

This digital approach simplifies the process of issuing share certificates to investors, employees, and other stakeholders eligible for stock options.

In addition to equity management, Carta offers tools for digital valuations, portfolio investments, and equity plans. These features allow companies to:

• Assess their financial standing
• Manage investor portfolios
• Design equity compensation plans effectively

Venture capital firms also utilize Carta's software to oversee their portfolios, ensuring transparency and efficiency in managing investments.

Previously, Carta operated CartaX, a private stock exchange that allowed employees and shareholders to sell stocks before a company went public or was acquired. This platform provided liquidity options for stakeholders in private companies.

However, CartaX was discontinued in 2024 following a customer data scandal.

As of August 2022, Carta was tracking over $2.5 trillion in company equity and had facilitated $13 billion in secondary-market sales. Its clientele includes notable companies such as Slack, Calendly, and Affirm.

The company's CEO, Henry Ward, continues to lead Carta in its mission to modernize equity management and valuation processes.

Carta's commitment to innovation and transparency has positioned it as a leader in the field of equity management software, offering comprehensive solutions that cater to the needs of modern businesses and their stakeholders.

Location

Carta is headquartered in:

• Seattle, WA, USA