Carta started with this question: Why can I buy Google stock on my phone, but investing in a private company costs $20K in legal fees, takes 45 days to close, and ends with a mailed paper stock certificate? In 2012, we began tackling this problem by offering an easier way to issue securities. When companies issue securities, we automatically track equity details on cap tables. Through our products for private companies, we reach venture capitalists and employees, laying the foundation for the ownership network. More than 11,000 companies and 700,000 shareholders (investors and employees) are now on Carta.

https://carta.com/blog/seriese/