In simple English
This tool helps startup founders keep track of who owns shares in their company. It stores all ownership data in a single file on your computer, so you do not need an external database or expensive software. You can add investors, track stock options, and calculate future ownership when convertible notes convert. It costs nothing to run, though you must be comfortable typing commands in a terminal window. If you make a mistake, you can fix it using standard version control.
What it is
Captan is a command-line interface tool written in TypeScript for managing startup capitalization tables and equity records. It saves all data locally in a captable.json file and includes built-in calculations for vesting schedules, fully diluted ownership, and SAFE conversions.
What it is good for
Early-stage founders who want to track share issuances, employee stock options, and SAFE investments without paying for hosted legal tech software.
- Stores everything in a plain JSON file that you can track in Git.
- Calculates fully diluted ownership and convertible security conversions automatically.
- Generates a local schema file for autocomplete and error checking in code editors.
- Requires Node.js 20 or higher installed on your computer.
- Runs entirely from the command line with no graphical user interface.
- Provides no legal guarantees, so you must verify all calculations with a professional.
Spreadsheets and paid cap table management software
Git
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npx captan@latest --help