CAPITAL STUDIES
Startup exit strategies
How startups leave the private market. 35 pathways across acquisitions, public markets, staged liquidity, employee and alternative ownership, and the crypto structures whose legal treatment is still unsettled. Built from current market data and primary sources, for founders, investors, and boards.
01
The periodic table of startup exits
All 35 pathways in 5 families, as an interactive table. Click any element for what it is, when it fits, how it runs, and what to watch for, with references and further reading on each.
Published 25 July 2026
02
Which exit fits, in three questions
A decision framework. What you are exiting, the cash position, and who is on the cap table, narrowing 35 pathways to a short list.
In preparation