Discover how to optimize your capital table in TC All Stage 2025.
Leaders from Fidelity, DepositLink, and Cimulate will participate in TechCrunch All Stage to provide training on how to enhance your investment capability. Register now and save up to $450 on ticket purchases.
The startup financing process can be complicated, and a messy capitalization table could exacerbate that difficulty. At the TechCrunch All Stage event, taking place on July 15, founders will have the opportunity to participate in a roundtable session titled "Preparing to Fundraise: Capitalization Table Best Practices to Help You Close Quickly." This gathering, which will take place on the Foundation stage, will bring together professionals with extensive legal and financial experience, as well as founders, who will share their insights on the factors that favor a successful close and those that can cause delays.
The panel will consist of three experts who have observed fundraising from various perspectives: legal, investor, and founder. Lynne Zagami, Vice President of Customer Success at Fidelity Private Shares, has assisted numerous startups in managing their capital and preparing for effective fundraising. Her expertise in corporate law and her advisory work with startups make her a valuable source of information on what founders need to be ready in front of investors.
Darrell West, co-founder and CFO of DepositLink, brings over 40 years of experience in accounting, finance, and private equity. His background includes work at Goldman Sachs and audits at Coopers & Lybrand, as well as investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving him extensive insight into capital strategies and regulatory compliance.
John Andrews, CEO of Cimulate and former Vice President of Product Innovation at Nike, will provide the perspective of a founder. He has scaled companies through acquisitions, led product developments at Oracle, and collaborated with commerce brands to enhance their use of artificial intelligence. His experience allows him to understand the operational realities faced by founders when raising funds, as well as the obstacles that can slow down the process.
Attendees can expect to gain practical insights on aspects such as: what a clean capitalization table looks like for investors, documents and metrics that can delay the due diligence process, how to avoid legal costs and negotiation delays, and ways for founders to prepare in advance to optimize their fundraising process. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of what it takes to fundraise efficiently and how to ensure that their startup is ready when favorable opportunities arise.
