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Unit Economics 2ae1afb22d8ea675faebcf96a6bf5c863fb3252606b1f425c3ebefdfdd90b1f4

Hard sci-fi vs fantasy: Pre-Revenue Financial Modeling

A startup without customers, revenue, active users, or even a product can still get a ton of value out of putting together a financial model even though most of the assumptions and formulas will be fabricated. If your hard sci-fi story demonstrates enough rigor and reasonableness to be plausible, you’re way better off than just charting a “number go up” fantasy, or never telling your tale at all.

<img width="338" height="338" alt="Ryan Nash" data-srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" data-src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" data-sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" class="ft-img lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="338" height="338" src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" class="ft-img" alt="Ryan Nash" srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />

Ryan Nash , COO , Gust INC

A Startup Founder's Quick Guide to Preparing for Taxes

83(b) Elections – Avoid a Surprise Tax Bill on Your Founder Stock

Filing an 83(b) election let's you handle the tax upfront when things are cheap to save you from big tax headaches later. This is your personal income tax responsibility—the company can’t do it for you.

<img width="338" height="338" alt="Ryan Nash" data-srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" data-src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" data-sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" class="ft-img lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="338" height="338" src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" class="ft-img" alt="Ryan Nash" srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />

Ryan Nash , COO , Gust INC

Improve Your Life One Breath At A Time 8e4e58817959895e0b95c3f437a7965eb20b2f9df41a910642c8dc32da467ccc

Avoid Diligence Pitfalls with Gust’s new Corporate Diligence Tool

Corporate structure issues can quickly kill a fundraising deal for early startups, so we've built Gust's Corporate Diligence Review to provide startups with a report card highlighting their possible red flags before they pitch to investors.

<img width="338" height="338" src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan.png" class="ft-img" alt="Peter Swan" srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />

Peter Swan , CEO , Gust INC

Insurance Policies Every Startup Should Have F2a64fc1bf280eff2f373458f737de87ffa66c2e112c319b195b2dd41fccb958

Why Your Common Stock Grants Need Vesting Schedules (Even If You’re Solo)

Vesting schedules aren’t just a formality—they’re a fundamental part of building a strong, aligned founding team. Investors expect them, they help protect your cap table, and they ensure that equity is fairly distributed over time.

<img width="338" height="338" alt="Ryan Nash" data-srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" data-src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" data-sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" class="ft-img lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="338" height="338" src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png" class="ft-img" alt="Ryan Nash" srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ryan-nash-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />

Ryan Nash , COO , Gust INC

Best Practices for a Successful Startup Advisory Board

Leave some room at the (cap) table, you’re probably going to need it.

For most startups, issuing between 60% and 80% of the total authorized shares of Common Stock is a good rule of thumb that balances founder ownership with flexibility to bring on additional contributors and minimizes Delaware franchise tax.

<img width="338" height="338" src="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan.png" class="ft-img" alt="Peter Swan" srcset="https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan.png 338w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan-250x250.png 250w, https://gust.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/peter-swan-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" />

Peter Swan , CEO , Gust INC

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