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Henry Ward

CEO & Founder, Carta

Search every verified Henry Ward interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Henry Ward, founder and CEO of Carta, has recently discussed the company's shift toward an AI-first approach, stating that Carta is "very quickly turning into an AI company where instead of selling software, we're selling units of work." He described Carta's focus on rebuilding its platform with AI and teaching customers how to use the technology. Ward also outlined Carta's next chapter as expanding into private equity and private credit infrastructure, replicating its work in venture capital. Ward has advocated for amending 401k rules to allow startup employees to move vested equity shares directly into their retirement accounts, calling it a "personal passion." He attributed the decline in IPOs not to regulation but to the punitive nature of public markets, noting that "private valuations are almost 2x what you see in public." Ward observed that while total startup funding is on track to be 50% higher than in 2023, headcount is declining, with companies becoming "smaller, leaner companies with AI." He also noted that Carta is now profitable after 12 years of losses, and while an IPO is possible, "right now it just doesn't make a ton of sense."

Recent appearances

Notable quotes

“Well, it's changing every day. Uh four months ago, we're like, we're going public. Uh and now, I don't know if people pay attention, but uh SAS businesses are getting crushed uh these days. Uh and so now we're like, man, private sounds pretty good. Um so, you know, it it it all depends. There's no there's no rush. We're we're making money. Uh liquidity is fine. Um uh you know, the the we'll we'll be independent, I I ”

“We're about 11 years old. Uh about 500 million in revenue. We've got about almost 2,000 employees worldwide. We've raised a billion dollars. I'm shocked too uh for this business. Uh I'll I'll try to explain the justification for that. Um but we built we've raised it across a bunch of venture capital but more recently the last round we did was 500 million bucks and it was mostly spread across private equity investors ”

“I'm spending all day on the hill tomorrow pitching. Uh, I I think we're getting close like people are listening. So, here here's my pitch to all of you. Um, so in the US, of course, we have this 401k savings retirement. The way it works, uh, is I think it's up to 25,000 bucks a year. I'm a I'm able to take some of my salary and divert it into my 401k for for retirement. If you're a startup or tech employee, your your”

“The the real reason is that the public markets can be super punitive. Uh if a company missteps, particularly a smaller one. Uh and it's it's scary out there. You know, if I make a mistake, you know, just my board knows, you know, if I have a bad quarter, just my board knows and my major investors and I can I can call all of them and talk to them and explain what's going on and say, 'Believe in me. You know, we're wor”

“I don't think there's any um reason for companies to go public if you're doing well in the private private markets right now. Private valuations are almost 2x what you see in in public. Like you just you're able to find you know there's no shortage of capital in the private markets today. Uh uh and and prices are much better in the private market. So I don't think it's I think the traditional view was um if a company”

“Companies are raising unbelievable amounts of money. I think we're at something like last report Peter did, our data guy, uh something like 50% more total funding. Uh we're on track for 50% more total funding this year than 2023. Um but the the headcount is actually declining of these of these companies. Like we're just not they're not hiring. And I think the the dollars raised per per employee now I think is almost ”

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