Startups rely on equity and debt for growth, but there’s a third tool that can unlock strategic partnerships, preserve cash, and extend runway: warrants. Having built multiple startups and worked with countless financial partners, we’ve seen firsthand how warrant-based strategies create extraordinary win-win scenarios when done right.

Let's explore why this matters for everyone in the startup ecosystem, especially for founders and the companies who serve them.

What Exactly Is a Warrant?

Simply put, a warrant gives the holder the right to purchase shares at a predetermined price in the future. Unlike options (which typically go to employees), warrants are more flexible and issued to external partners, often as part of commercial agreements.

Think of warrants as a promise to let someone share in your future success at today's price. The genius is in the timing: they create value today but typically only convert to equity upon a liquidity event in the future, at the moment of least monetary impact.

Moving Warrants from Misunderstood Afterthought to Strategic Driver

Most people have heard of warrants, but they're typically viewed as an afterthought–that little thing tacked onto a venture debt term sheet that nobody really thinks about strategically. Sound familiar?