Fundraising is already hard — don’t let a messy cap table make it harder.

At TechCrunch All Stage on July 15, founders will get a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to keep a raise on track during the roundtable session “Preparing to Raise: Cap Table Best Practices to Help You Close Fast.” Hosted on the Foundation Stage, this conversation brings together seasoned legal, financial, and founder voices to share what works, what slows things down, and what it actually takes to close quickly.

From legal readiness to equity clarity and investor expectations, this is a session built for founders ready to grow — and do it right.

This conversation brings together three experts who have seen startup fundraising from every angle — legal, investor, and founder.

Lynne Zagami, Vice President of Customer Success at Fidelity Private Shares, has helped countless startups clean up their equity management and prepare for successful raises. With a background in corporate law and years of startup-focused advisory work, she knows exactly what founders need to get investor-ready.

Darrell West, Co-Founder and CFO of DepositLink, draws from 40+ years in accounting, finance, and private equity. From Goldman Sachs to auditing at Coopers & Lybrand to investing across sub-Saharan Africa, West brings a wealth of global experience in capital strategy and compliance.

John Andrews, CEO of Cimulate and former VP of Product Innovation at Nike, brings the founder’s perspective. He’s scaled companies through acquisition, led product at Oracle, and helped commerce brands build smarter with AI. He knows the operational realities of raising money — and the traps that slow founders down.

Expect real-world insights on:

• What a clean cap table looks like to investors
• The documents and metrics that hold up diligence
• Avoiding legal costs and negotiation delays
• How founders can prep early and stay ahead of the process

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what it takes to raise efficiently — and how to make sure your startup is ready when the right opportunity comes.

Limited-time ticket launch rates! Investors save $425. Founders save $320. Join founders and VCs across all startup stages at TechCrunch All Stage, taking place in Boston’s SoWa Power Station. Register now and pocket real savings.