Assertion Contradicted AI assessment confidence: 95% certainty 4/5 debate potential 1/5

Walker: Carta down rounds peaked at 22% in 2022

Peter Walker · The New Economics of Startups in the AI Era with Peter Walker of Carta · Jan 20, 2026 · at 13:15

Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, describes peak down-round frequencies across private venture-backed companies during the market correction.

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“In the peak of that, in 20, 22, 22% were down rounds.”

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