Business & Economics
What Is a Term Sheet, and Why Does It Matter Before the Real Contract?
A term sheet isn't legally binding for most of its terms, but it sets the framework everyone negotiates from before…
Business & Economics
Business & Economics
Accelerator vs. Incubator: What’s the Real Difference for Founders?
An accelerator runs on a fixed timeline and usually takes equity for cash and mentorship. An incubator moves slower and…
Business & Economics
What Is a Bridge Round, and When Do Startups Actually Need One?
A bridge round is short-term funding meant to get a startup from where it is now to its next real…
Business & Economics
What Is an Employee Option Pool, and How Big Should It Be?
An option pool is equity set aside specifically for future employees. Most startups carve out 10-20% of the company for…
Business & Economics
What Is a Down Round, and Why Do Startups Dread Them?
A down round means raising money at a lower valuation than the company's previous round, a signal that can spook…
Business & Economics
Convertible Note vs. SAFE: What’s Actually the Difference?
A convertible note is technically debt with an interest rate and maturity date. A SAFE is neither, which makes it…
Business & Economics
What Is a Vesting Cliff, and Why Do Startups Use One?
A vesting cliff means you get zero equity if you leave before a set period, usually one year, then a…
Business & Economics
How Many Startups Actually Fail, and at What Stage?
Roughly 90% of startups fail overall, but the real risk is concentrated in the first few years, not evenly spread…
Business & Economics
How Do You Actually Know If You’ve Found Product-Market Fit?
There's no single metric for product-market fit, but a widely used signal test asks how disappointed users would be if…
Business & Economics
What Is a SAFE Note, and How Is It Different From a Loan?
A SAFE note isn't debt at all. It's a promise of future equity, and unlike a loan, it doesn't accrue…