How to set up and run an EMI scheme
A practical guide to EMI options for UK startups: the 2026 rule changes, eligibility, the £250k limit, HMRC valuations and filings, and how to run it all without the admin headache.
Blog
Articles on cap table management, EIP, ESOP and VSOP, written for founders, CFOs and People teams at European startups and scale-ups.
How much equity should you give your employees?
How much equity to reserve for employees: option-pool size by stage, grants by role and seniority, vesting and dilution norms, based on published guidance from Index Ventures and Balderton Capital.
Best Cap Table Software for German Startups (2026)
The four cap table platforms worth evaluating for a German GmbH in 2026: GAIA, Ledgy, Carta, and Story.law Aegis, and where each genuinely fits.
Equity That Keeps People: Hiring, Motivation, and Retention
Why equity is one of the most effective levers European companies have for winning and keeping talent, and what Germany's § 19a reform changes about the calculation.
What to Expect from Your Equity Management Provider
What the right equity management provider does for you, who relies on it, where equity administration goes wrong, and the questions worth asking before you c…
Understanding Convertible Loans: A Comprehensive Guide for Startups
A guide to convertible loans as a hybrid financing instrument for early-stage startups, covering how they work, their advantages, and key terms to negotiate.
When and How to Implement the New EIPs under § 19a EStG
Explore the strategic timing and key implementation steps for Equity Incentive Plans under Germany's newly reformed § 19a EStG.
Best VSOP and ESOP Management Software in Germany (2026)
What VSOP and ESOP management software needs to do in Germany, and how to evaluate the field.
Carta alternatives for German and European startups: an honest field guide
A stage-by-stage and geography-by-geography guide to the strongest Carta alternatives for German and European startups.
Ledgy alternatives for European startups: an honest field guide
An honest, stage-by-stage guide to the strongest Ledgy alternatives for European startups, including where each genuinely fits.
GAIA vs Ledgy: which equity platform fits a German startup?
An honest comparison of GAIA and Ledgy for German startups: where each fits, and how the legal layer changes the decision.
GAIA vs Carta: Which Cap Table Platform for a German GmbH?
Why Carta and GAIA are not close alternatives for a German GmbH, and where each platform actually fits.