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Cake Equity

US-based cap table & 409A platform, built for SAFE-through-Series-A startups

Cap TableEquity ManagementESOP409A ValuationsCompliance

Cake Equity is a US-based equity management platform covering cap tables, employee stock options (ESOP), 409A valuations, and compliance reporting for startups moving from their first SAFE through a Series A and beyond. It's the top-rated equity management platform on G2 — 4.8/5 across 135+ reviews, ranking #1 in Implementation, Usability, Results, Momentum, and Relationship for Summer 2026 — with founders, investors, and attorneys consistently citing the clean interface and fast, responsive support. Pricing is flat and transparent: free up to 5 stakeholders, Build at $1,000/year for 25 stakeholders, and Team at $2,750/year for 40 stakeholders with a 409A valuation included, making it one of the most cost-efficient ways to pair a compliant cap table with a 409A anywhere in the category.

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Join thousands of teams already using Cake Equity.

Try Cake Equity Free
Free
Entry Tier (≤5)
4.8★
G2 Rating
#1
G2 Implementation
$2,750/yr
Cap Table + 409A

Key Highlights

US-based platform built specifically for US SAFE-through-Series-A startups
Free tier for up to 5 stakeholders — no time limit, not a trial
409A valuation included at the $2,750/year Team plan — one of the cheapest bundled options in the category
Top-rated equity management platform on G2: 4.8/5 across 135+ reviews
#1 on G2 for Implementation, Usability, Results, Momentum, and Relationship (Summer 2026)
Clean, fast employee-facing equity portal — founders and reviewers cite onboarding speed
Flat, transparent pricing that scales predictably as stakeholder count grows

Why We Recommend Cake Equity

01

Cap Table Management

Track every equity event from your first SAFE through option grants, priced rounds, and conversions, with a real-time fully diluted cap table and audit trail.

02

Employee Equity Portal

Give employees a self-serve dashboard to view grants, vesting schedules, and exercise options — reviewers consistently flag the interface as one of the cleanest in the category.

03

409A Valuations

409A valuations bundled into the $2,750/year Team plan, giving startups a defensible, audit-ready valuation without a separate line-item vendor.

04

Compliance & Reporting

Cap table and reporting features built to support US startups through diligence and audits as they scale from formation through Series A and beyond.

05

Fast Onboarding

Founders and reviewers highlight setup speed as a standout — migrating an existing cap table or starting fresh is designed to take hours, not weeks.

Best For

US pre-seed and seed startups that want a free-to-start cap table with room to grow
Founders who want a 409A bundled into their cap table subscription instead of paying a separate vendor
Teams that value G2's top implementation and support ratings in the category over brand name recognition
Budget-conscious founders who still need audit-ready compliance ahead of a priced round

Pricing

Free: up to 5 stakeholders — genuinely free, not a trial. Build: $1,000/year for up to 25 stakeholders. Team: $2,750/year for up to 40 stakeholders, with a 409A valuation included.

Our Verdict

Cake Equity is the strongest budget-tier cap table platform for US startups moving from a first SAFE through a Series A. The free tier for up to 5 stakeholders is genuinely usable, not a trial, and the $2,750/year Team plan bundling a 409A valuation undercuts most of the category on total cost. G2's top rating in the category (4.8/5, #1 in Implementation and Relationship) backs up what the pricing suggests — this is a platform startups are getting real, fast support from. The trade-off is brand recognition: Carta and Pulley are more familiar names to US institutional investors and law firms, so it's worth a quick check with your lead before you commit if you're heading into a priced round. For founders optimizing for cost and hands-on support pre-Series A, Cake is a strong pick.

Limitations to Know

Less brand recognition with US institutional investors than Carta or Pulley — worth asking your lead investor or law firm if they have a preference before you commit
As with any newer entrant, best suited to founders comfortable evaluating a platform on reviews and features rather than incumbent brand recognition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cake Equity?

Cake Equity is a US-based equity management platform that handles cap table tracking, employee stock options (ESOP), 409A valuations, and compliance reporting for startups from their first SAFE through a Series A and beyond. It's the top-rated equity management platform on G2, with a 4.8/5 rating across 135+ reviews.

How much does Cake Equity cost?

Cake Equity is free for up to 5 stakeholders. The Build plan is $1,000/year for up to 25 stakeholders. The Team plan is $2,750/year for up to 40 stakeholders and includes a 409A valuation — one of the most cost-efficient bundled cap table + 409A options available.

How does Cake Equity compare to Carta or Pulley?

Cake Equity is priced significantly lower than both, and its G2 ratings (4.8/5, #1 in Implementation and Relationship) lead the category. Carta and Pulley have deeper brand recognition with US institutional investors and law firms, which can matter during diligence for a priced round — worth confirming with your lead investor if that's a concern. On day-to-day cap table and 409A functionality, Cake is a genuine budget alternative rather than a stripped-down one.

Does Cake Equity include a 409A valuation?

Yes — a 409A valuation is included at the $2,750/year Team plan (up to 40 stakeholders), which is one of the cheapest bundled cap table + 409A packages in the category.

Is Cake Equity's free tier actually free?

Yes. The free tier supports up to 5 stakeholders with no time limit — it's a permanent free tier, not a trial.

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Ready to get started with Cake Equity?

Join thousands of startups and teams already using Cake Equity to work smarter.

Try Cake Equity Free

Cake Equity is a Value Add VC sponsor.

Trace Cohen is a serial founder, investor and data geek. Please feel free to reach out t@nyvp.com

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