Entrepreneurial Finance, SAFEs and Cap Tables

About this course

Entrepreneurial Finance, SAFEs and Cap Tables (ENT 404) is an applied elective in the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital concentration. Startup financial models, unit economics, cap tables, SAFEs, burn and runway, and the investor-ready financial package.

Prerequisites: ACC 101, FIN 201 recommended. Length: 6 weeks. Assessment: 50% applied project, 30% case work, 20% knowledge checks.

What you will be able to do

• Build a three-statement startup model with explicit assumptions
• Stress-test unit economics and contribution margin
• Maintain a fully diluted cap table through priced rounds and SAFEs
• Model SAFE conversion and dilution scenarios
• Manage burn, runway, and default-alive vs default-dead paths
• Assemble a fundraising financial data room outline

How the course is organized

Six units, 24 lessons (four per unit). Work in order.

Unit	Topic	Lessons	You will
1	Startup Financial Statements and Cash Planning	Foundations of Startup Financial Statements and Cash Planning · Key Concepts and Vocabulary in Startup Financial Statements and Cash Planning · Frameworks for Analyzing Startup Financial Statements and Cash Planning · Startup Financial Statements and Cash Planning: Applied Business Decisions	Apply startup financial statements and cash planning to your venture
2	Unit Economics and Venture Metrics	Understanding Unit Economics and Venture Metrics · How Unit Economics and Venture Metrics Works in Practice · Evaluating Trade-offs in Unit Economics and Venture Metrics · Unit Economics and Venture Metrics: Case Analysis and Recommendations	Apply unit economics and venture metrics to your venture
3	Founder Equity and Early Ownership Design	The Strategic Logic of Founder Equity and Early Ownership Design · Methods and Models for Founder Equity and Early Ownership Design · Evidence, Metrics and Assumptions in Founder Equity and Early Ownership Design · Founder Equity and Early Ownership Design: From Analysis to Action	Apply founder equity and early ownership design to your venture
4	SAFEs, Notes and Priced Rounds	Core Principles of SAFEs, Notes and Priced Rounds · Designing an Approach to SAFEs, Notes and Priced Rounds · Common Risks and Failure Modes in SAFEs, Notes and Priced Rounds · SAFEs, Notes and Priced Rounds: Practical Decision Exercise	Apply safes, notes and priced rounds to your venture
5	Cap Tables, Dilution and Scenario Modeling	The Business Context for Cap Tables, Dilution and Scenario Modeling · Tools and Techniques for Cap Tables, Dilution and Scenario Modeling · Managing Complexity in Cap Tables, Dilution and Scenario Modeling · Cap Tables, Dilution and Scenario Modeling: Executive Synthesis	Apply cap tables, dilution and scenario modeling to your venture
6	Financing Strategy and Investor Readiness	Integrating the Elements of Financing Strategy and Investor Readiness · Advanced Questions in Financing Strategy and Investor Readiness · Implementation and Measurement in Financing Strategy and Investor Readiness · Financing Strategy and Investor Readiness: Final Applied Review	Apply financing strategy and investor readiness to your venture

Applied work

• Startup financial model
• Cap table scenario workbook
• SAFE conversion model
• Fundraising financial memo