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If you’ve ever seen a startup try to manage its equity with spreadsheets, you know exactly the kind of chaos that can unfold. If not, just imagine dozens of investors, employee shares, vesting schedules, and valuation changes… all tracked in a single, color-coded Google Sheet.
That’s the headache Qapita set out to solve. And now, with a fresh $26.5 million Series B round led by Charles Schwab, the Singapore-based fintech is stepping into the big leagues — and into the U.S. market.
From Banker to Founder: Why Qapita Exists
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Qapita was founded in 2019 by Ravi Ravulaparthi (CEO), along with Lakshman Gupta (COO) and Vamsee Mohan (CTO). Ravi, a former banker, had a front-row seat to the mess early-stage companies made out of their cap tables. The tools were clunky. Some used spreadsheets. Others didn’t even have a system.
That frustration turned into a startup.
Qapita launched in January 2021 with a platform to help companies manage their cap tables — who owns what, and when. Pretty quickly, users asked for more. So Qapita added features to help companies handle employee equity and stock plans, and even facilitate secondary share sales. Think of it as an all-in-one dashboard for private company ownership.
Why This New Schwab Deal Matters
Charles Schwab isn’t new to equity management. They already handle stock plans for major public companies. But managing equity for startups? That’s Carta’s turf — at least for now.
With this new partnership, Schwab just launched a platform called Schwab Private Issuer Equity Services, powered entirely by Qapita. It’s tailored for U.S. startups, helping them:
- Manage cap tables
- Administer employee stock plans
- Tie into Schwab’s wealth management services
- Get ready for an IPO
In short, it gives Schwab a seat at the startup table — and gives Qapita a way into the U.S., a key market it had only tiptoed into before.
“Of course, the U.S. is a very large market. There are a few options in the private market space… but they are too few for a market of that size,” Ravi said in an interview.
It’s not their first step outside Southeast Asia and India, but it’s definitely their biggest.
Where Qapita Stands Today
Here’s what Qapita looks like so far:
- 2,700 companies use its platform
- 70% of users are in India, 20% in Southeast Asia (Singapore and Indonesia)
- About half of India’s unicorns use Qapita
- 1,400 companies pay for at least one premium feature
- 300 full-time employees
- Over $80 million raised to date
They’re not stopping there. A new fund administration product is in the works, aimed at serving multiple markets.
And with Carta pulling out of India last year, Qapita has more room to grow at home while eyeing bigger opportunities abroad.
Why This Is a Smart Move for Schwab
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For Charles Schwab, this is more than a tech investment. It’s a strategic bet. The U.S. startup space is massive and still doesn’t have enough tools tailored to private market equity management.
With Qapita, Schwab can offer early and mid-stage companies the kind of infrastructure they’ll eventually need if they go public — and tie it all back to Schwab’s own financial ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Cap table chaos is something few talk about… until it’s too late. Qapita’s bet is that managing equity shouldn’t just be an investor’s spreadsheet nightmare — it should be smart, simple, and scalable.
And now, with Schwab in their corner, they’re bringing that vision into some of the busiest startup hubs in the world.
That’s a pretty solid next chapter — not just for Qapita, but for thousands of companies that might finally say goodbye to the spreadsheet shuffle.
Keywords: Charles Schwab, Qapita, Singapore startup, cap table management, equity management, fintech, Schwab Private Issuer Equity Services, U.S. market, investment, startup chaos
