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Cloud-based software for cap table management, equity tracking, valuation, and fund administration for private companies and venture funds.
San Francisco, California-based Carta provides cloud-based software for capitalization table management, equity tracking, and valuation services for private companies and venture capital investors. The platform serves over 50,000 companies across more than 160 countries and supports nearly 7,000 funds and special purpose vehicles representing $130 billion in assets under management. Operating through a software-as-a-service subscription model, the firm has expanded its core equity management offerings to include fund administration, compensation management, and liquidity solutions, supported by a global workforce of nearly 1,900 employees. The enterprise previously operated the private stock exchange CartaX before shuttering it in 2024, and expanded its European market presence by acquiring the London-based equity management firm Capdesk in 2022. Originally launched under the brand name eShares, the software company was founded in 2012 by Henry Ward and Manu Kumar.
Carta has raised $1.2B across 8 funding rounds.
Key people at Carta.
Carta was founded in 2012 by Henry Ward (Co-Founder).
Carta has raised $1.2B in total across 8 funding rounds.
Carta was founded in 2012 by Henry Ward (Co-Founder).
Carta has raised $1.2B in total across 8 funding rounds.
Carta's investors include 9Yards Capital, Kevin Hartz, Accel, Acrew Capital, Adverb Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Audrey Capital, Benchstrength, Blitzscaling Ventures, Bond, Broadway Angels, C2 Investment.
Carta is a leading software company that provides a comprehensive platform for managing equity, capitalization tables (cap tables), and fund administration primarily for private companies, startups, and investors. Its core product suite digitizes and automates complex equity management tasks such as issuing shares, tracking ownership, managing stock options, and handling special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Carta serves founders, investors, and employees by simplifying ownership tracking and compliance, enabling better decision-making around fundraising, equity compensation, and liquidity events. The company has achieved significant growth and market dominance, capturing about 95% of the cap table management market at one point and supporting over 50,000 startups and $4 trillion in equity under management[1][3][7][9].
Founded in 2012, Carta was created to solve the widespread problem of error-prone, spreadsheet-based equity management. The founders recognized the need for a centralized, cloud-based system to replace paper stock certificates and manual recordkeeping. Early traction came from venture-backed startups and investors eager for a more transparent and efficient way to manage ownership and compliance. Over time, Carta expanded its offerings beyond cap tables to include 409A valuations, liquidity solutions, fund administration, and compensation management, evolving into a full "Network ERP for Private Capital" that integrates all stakeholders in the private capital ecosystem—startups, venture/private equity investors, and limited partners (LPs)[1][3][5].
Carta rides the trend of digitization and automation in private capital markets, addressing the historically fragmented and manual processes of equity and fund management. The timing is crucial as private markets grow in size and complexity, with increasing regulatory demands and investor expectations for transparency. Carta’s integrated platform reduces operational risk and enhances decision-making for startups and investors alike. By creating a network ERP, Carta influences the broader ecosystem by standardizing data flows and enabling new financial products and secondary market liquidity, thus accelerating innovation and capital formation in the startup economy[5][9].
Looking ahead, Carta is positioned to deepen its role as the backbone of private capital infrastructure by expanding its ERP capabilities and integrating more financial and compliance workflows. Trends such as increased secondary market activity, regulatory changes, and the rise of private markets globally will shape its journey. Carta’s influence is likely to grow as it continues to unify stakeholders on a single platform, driving efficiency and transparency. The company’s mission to replace outdated spreadsheets and manual processes with software solutions remains a powerful narrative as private capital markets evolve[5][9].
In summary, Carta transformed equity management from a fragmented, error-prone process into a streamlined, scalable software platform that serves the entire private capital ecosystem, enabling startups and investors to manage ownership and fundraising with confidence.
Key people at Carta.
Carta has raised $1.2B across 8 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $500.0M Series G in August 2021.
