Capital Bearings

Capital Path Index

A source-linked comparison of common U.S. startup capital routes. It is an index, not an eligibility engine or a recommendation service.

A compass, ruled paper, and color-coded route tabs on a founder planning desk

Compare the obligation before the label

Each record uses a plain-language ownership and repayment flag. The flags are comparison aids: negotiated documents, program requirements, and company facts determine the actual terms.

Route	Ownership	Repayment	Preparation	Guide
Revenue-funded growthrevenue	No dilution	No scheduled repayment	Customer revenue and working capital	Route guide Official source
Post-money SAFEconvertible security	Possible future dilution	No scheduled repayment	SAFE form, cap table, investor records	Route guide Official source
Convertible noteconvertible security	Possible future dilution	Negotiated debt terms	Note terms, cap table, maturity tracking	Route guide Official source
Priced equity roundequity	Immediate dilution	No scheduled repayment	Term sheet, cap table, transaction documents	Route guide Official source
Regulation Crowdfundingcrowdfunding	Immediate dilution	No scheduled repayment	Intermediary process and issuer disclosures	Route guide Official source
SBA 7(a) loandebt	No dilution	Scheduled repayment	Lender underwriting and SBA requirements	Route guide Official source
SBA microloandebt	No dilution	Scheduled repayment	Intermediary application and repayment plan	Route guide Official source
SBIC financinghybrid	Negotiated	Negotiated	Private diligence and SBIC fit	Route guide Official source
SBIR awardgrant	No dilution	No scheduled repayment	Agency solicitation and technical proposal	Route guide Official source
STTR awardgrant	No dilution	No scheduled repayment	Research institution relationship and proposal	Route guide Official source
Federal discretionary grantgrant	Usually no dilution	Program-specific	Opportunity-specific eligibility and package	Route guide Official source
Venture debtdebt	May include warrants	Scheduled repayment	Lender diligence and covenant review	Route guide Official source

Classification and freshness

Records are reviewed against the linked primary source. The visible date records a review, not an assurance that a specific company qualifies. Read our methodology for field definitions and send corrections through contact.

Capital Bearings maintains this page as part of its source-led founder-finance reference. Related rules and claims are kept separate from personal financial, legal, tax, lending, and grant-application advice. For a correction, use the contact route with the relevant page URL and canonical source.