Tran VC Content Team

If you’re a founder building something technical—like AI, robotics, or deep software—you’ve probably heard of grant funding. But for most, it still feels like a mystery. Is it free money? Is it worth the paperwork? Can you really build a company using grants instead of giving up equity? The answer: yes. But only if you […]

Raising early-stage capital is tricky. You want speed. Flexibility. You don’t want to spend months negotiating terms. But you also don’t want to wake up one day and realize you’ve signed away more than you thought. That’s where convertible notes and SAFEs come in. They’re fast. They’re simple. And they’ve become the go-to tools for

You’ve built something powerful. Not just a pitch deck or an idea—but real tech. A new algorithm. A smarter sensor. A unique process that solves a problem no one else is solving. But you’re not ready to give up equity. Not yet. You’ve come too far to hand over control just to keep moving. That’s

Raising money before you have a product feels impossible. But the truth is, many great companies started that way. You might have an idea. A sketch. Maybe some code. But you haven’t launched. You haven’t built the full thing yet. And you’re wondering—how can I get capital when there’s nothing to demo? The answer lies

Raising money for your startup doesn’t have to mean giving away equity. It doesn’t have to mean pitching a hundred investors, negotiating term sheets, or giving up control just to get through the next few months. There’s another path. One where you stay in charge. One where you hold onto more of your company while

Founders start companies to build something meaningful. Something new. Something that matters. But too many lose control before they even get started. Not because of a bad product. Not because of slow growth. But because of one simple mistake: a messy cap table. Your cap table is more than just a spreadsheet. It shows who

Raising money for your startup feels like a big leap. It’s exciting. It’s nerve-wracking. And it comes with choices most founders never thought they’d have to make—especially around ownership. Should you give up equity now? Or raise using a SAFE note and deal with ownership later? This isn’t just paperwork. It’s about control. It’s about

Not every startup needs a VC check to get off the ground. Not every founder wants to give up control, answer to a board, or raise round after round just to keep building. And yet, most advice you hear is built around one path: pitch, raise, grow, repeat. But there’s another way. This guide is

When you’re building something new, getting help can feel urgent. Maybe it’s funding. Maybe it’s talent. Maybe it’s legal or technical support. And often, the price for that help is equity. But how much is too much? Most founders guess. Or they follow bad advice. And that guess can cost them—months, years, even their future

When you’re just starting out, it can feel like you have to trade big pieces of your company just to keep moving. You’re building, pitching, trying to hire, and raising money—often all at once. But here’s the truth: most founders give up way too much, way too early. You don’t need to drain your equity