Capitalization
The total value and structure of a company's equity and debt financing.
Definition
Capitalization refers to the total financial structure of a company, including all equity (common stock, preferred stock, options, warrants) and debt. In startup contexts, capitalization is most often discussed in terms of the cap table and the total equity value. A company's capitalization structure determines how proceeds are distributed in an exit and how much each shareholder owns.
Why it matters
Understanding your company's total capitalization helps you see where your equity fits in the overall picture. A company with heavy preferred stock capitalization and significant debt means more claims on exit proceeds before common holders get paid.
Example
A company's capitalization includes $40M in preferred stock across 3 series, $5M in venture debt, 10M common shares outstanding, and a 2M share option pool. Total equity capitalization at the last round's valuation is $200M.