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Carta Alternative for Emerging VCs

Carta dominates cap table management but charges enterprise prices with 5-10% annual escalators, deprioritizes small funds, and suffered a 2024 data privacy scandal where cap table data was shared with secondary buyers without consent. Archstone gives you cap table tracking, LP management, data room, deal flow, compliance, and AI orchestration — all in one platform at a fraction of the cost, with zero data privacy concerns.

Feature comparison

FeatureArchstoneCarta
Cap table management
Waterfall analysis
409A valuations
LP portal with self-service dashboard
Data room with viewer analytics
Deal flow pipeline (kanban)
Quarterly LP report builder
AI-powered fund operations (Archie)
Compliance calendar & tracking
Portfolio company metrics tracking
Capital call management
SAFE/note conversion modeling
Transparent, flat pricing

Why Archstone

Key differentiators vs Carta

Built for emerging managers, not enterprises

Carta was designed for startups managing their own cap tables, then bolted on fund admin. Archstone was purpose-built for the $3M-$30M emerging fund manager — every feature is designed for how you actually operate.

One platform replaces six tools

With Carta you still need DocSend, Visible.vc, Affinity, and compliance counsel. Archstone includes data room, LP portal, deal pipeline, portfolio tracker, compliance, and AI — so you cancel everything else.

AI orchestration with Archie

Carta has no AI layer. Archie lets you draft LP letters, analyze pitch decks, run compliance audits, and execute multi-step workflows in natural language. It is like having a junior associate who never sleeps.

No data privacy concerns

After Carta's 2024 data-sharing scandal, trust is broken. Archstone never shares your fund data with third parties. Your data stays yours — period.

Pricing comparison

Carta

Starts ~$3,000+/yr for basic fund admin; 5-10% annual price escalators that compound over 10-year fund life; per-stakeholder fees add up fast

Archstone

$297/mo Starter or $497/mo Pro — flat pricing, no per-stakeholder fees, no surprise escalators

Ready to switch from Carta?

Start your free trial today. No credit card required. Import your data and be up and running in under 10 minutes.