Hamza Shad
Insights Manager | Carta
Hamza Shad is an insights manager at Carta, where he analyzes data on startups and the venture capital ecosystem. He leads Carta’s quarterly State of Pre-Seed report on early-stage companies. Previously, Hamza conducted research on entrepreneurship in emerging markets at Endeavor. He holds a bachelor’s in economics and political science from the University of Chicago and a master’s in international development from Oxford.
25 MINS
Trading Floor - 2nd Floor
Mistakes You Can’t Undo: Cap Tables & Control (+ Q&A)
Your cap table isn’t paperwork, it’s power. From your first co-founder split to your first SAFE, option pool, and board seat, early ownership decisions quietly shape your fundraising leverage and long-term control. This session breaks down how to start building your cap table with intention: what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to structure equity so it scales with your ambition. Designed for founders raising now (or soon), this talk will demystify dilution, governance, and investor alignment before small decisions become permanent ones.
This session will feature a short audience Q&A.