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What is a 409A Valuation and Why Would my Startup Need it?
If you’re a founder planning to raise capital from sophisticated investors—such as venture capital firms—you will almost certainly need a company valuation at some point. Startups obtain valuations for different reasons, and one of the most common (and reliable) is a 409A valuation. A 409A valuation is
What is a 409A Valuation and Why Would my Startup Need it?
If you’re a founder planning to raise capital from sophisticated investors—such as venture capital firms—you will almost certainly need a company valuation at some point. Startups obtain valuations for different reasons, and one of the most common (and reliable) is a 409A valuation. A 409A valuation is
Guide to Using ChatGPT for "Legal Advice"
We get it, legal fees are expensive. And with technologies like generative AI becoming more accessible, it’s no surprise that people are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT for help with legal questions. ChatGPT is far from a substitute for a licensed attorney, but it can still be useful
Founder Equity 101: Shares, Vesting, and Stock Options Explained
If you’re starting a company, your equity is everything. It’s your reward for taking the risk, and it’s what investors, employees, and acquirers will all negotiate around. Yet many founders don’t fully understand how their ownership actually works, when it vests, or why it matters how
Corporation vs LLC: Choosing the Right Structure for Your Business
Your choice of business entity is one of the most important early decisions you’ll make. It affects how much tax you pay, how easily you can raise money, and how well your personal assets are protected. As a general rule, choose a corporation if you want to build a
IP for Founders: Protecting Your Brand, Product, and Ideas
Imagine spending months or years making your idea into something tangible only for someone to come along, take the idea (and perhaps physical invention too), and commercialise it without allowing you to benefit. IP helps avoid this by keeping your work yours. Whether it’s your logo, your app, your
Can I Just Copy Someone Else’s Terms of Use or Privacy Policy?
Your website’s Terms of Use (TOU) and Privacy Policy are more than legal fine print. They’re the foundation of your online business. These documents define how you interact with customers, protect your company from lawsuits, and ensure compliance with privacy laws. Yet many founders still copy these agreements
Who Really Owns a Patent: You or Your Company?
When your employees invent something valuable, who owns it — the inventor or your company? This question becomes critical the moment your startup raises funding, negotiates an acquisition, or files for patent protection. Investors and acquirers will always ask the same thing: “Does the company actually own its IP?” If the
Protecting Your Brand: Why Trademarks Matter for Founders
Many founders put off trademark protection until it’s too late. I've encountered several cases throughout my practice. A client asks me to help trademark their brand. After a thorough search, I discover that someone else has beaten them to the bunch. "But we've already
What to Know When Terminating Employees: How to Fire an Employee without Getting Sued
Terminating employees is an unfortunate but often unavoidable part of the founder journey. As you scale a company and build a strong team, early hires must align with the culture you are trying to create. A cohesive, meritocratic team with genuine entrepreneurial spirit is critical to building a lasting venture.
Data Room Checklist for Founders
In high-stakes transactions—such as M&A, equity financings, and IPOs—virtual data rooms (VDRs) are essential. A VDR is a secure digital repository used to store and share sensitive company documents during due diligence. Think of it as the digital version of a confidential folder founders provide to
Guide to Using ChatGPT for "Legal Advice"
We get it, legal fees are expensive. And with technologies like generative AI becoming more accessible, it’s no surprise that people are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT for help with legal questions. ChatGPT is far from a substitute for a licensed attorney, but it can still be useful
Expanding to Other U.S. States: Do I Need to Register?
Expanding your business into other U.S. states? Learn what “doing business” means, when you must register as a foreign entity, and how to stay compliant with state filing and tax requirements.
What is a 409A Valuation and Why Would my Startup Need it?
If you’re a founder planning to raise capital from sophisticated investors—such as venture capital firms—you will almost certainly need a company valuation at some point. Startups obtain valuations for different reasons, and one of the most common (and reliable) is a 409A valuation. A 409A valuation is
Preferred vs. Common Stock: What Founders Need to Know Before Fundraising
If you’ve built a successful company, chances are you’ve raised capital from investors—or plan to. In that process, understanding the difference between preferred stock and common stock is essential. These distinctions matter not only when raising money, but also when hiring employees, structuring incentives, and planning for
Data Room Checklist for Founders
In high-stakes transactions—such as M&A, equity financings, and IPOs—virtual data rooms (VDRs) are essential. A VDR is a secure digital repository used to store and share sensitive company documents during due diligence. Think of it as the digital version of a confidential folder founders provide to
Blue Sky Laws
When founders think about fundraising compliance, most focus on the SEC — accredited investors, Reg D exemptions, Form D filings, and federal securities law. But there’s another layer of regulation that often catches first-time entrepreneurs off guard: state securities laws, commonly known as “blue sky laws.” Even if your offering
What to Know When Terminating Employees: How to Fire an Employee without Getting Sued
Terminating employees is an unfortunate but often unavoidable part of the founder journey. As you scale a company and build a strong team, early hires must align with the culture you are trying to create. A cohesive, meritocratic team with genuine entrepreneurial spirit is critical to building a lasting venture.
Preferred vs. Common Stock: What Founders Need to Know Before Fundraising
If you’ve built a successful company, chances are you’ve raised capital from investors—or plan to. In that process, understanding the difference between preferred stock and common stock is essential. These distinctions matter not only when raising money, but also when hiring employees, structuring incentives, and planning for
What to Do When a Co-Founder Leaves
Founder dynamics can propel a company into the S&P 500—or send it into a steep decline. Unfortunately, not every startup relationship is a perfect match. When a co-founder leaves earlier than expected, it’s critical to get ahead of the legal issues that follow. A co-founder’s
Building a Strong Team: Hiring, Onboarding, and Retaining Employees
Being an employer comes with both rewards and challenges. On the one hand, employees allow you to delegate work, spread institutional knowledge, and drive enterprise value. On the other, they can create legal exposure or risk leaking confidential information. Since hiring is a necessary part of growing any business, learning
What is a 409A Valuation and Why Would my Startup Need it?
If you’re a founder planning to raise capital from sophisticated investors—such as venture capital firms—you will almost certainly need a company valuation at some point. Startups obtain valuations for different reasons, and one of the most common (and reliable) is a 409A valuation. A 409A valuation is
What to Know When Terminating Employees: How to Fire an Employee without Getting Sued
Terminating employees is an unfortunate but often unavoidable part of the founder journey. As you scale a company and build a strong team, early hires must align with the culture you are trying to create. A cohesive, meritocratic team with genuine entrepreneurial spirit is critical to building a lasting venture.
Preferred vs. Common Stock: What Founders Need to Know Before Fundraising
If you’ve built a successful company, chances are you’ve raised capital from investors—or plan to. In that process, understanding the difference between preferred stock and common stock is essential. These distinctions matter not only when raising money, but also when hiring employees, structuring incentives, and planning for
What to Do When a Co-Founder Leaves
Founder dynamics can propel a company into the S&P 500—or send it into a steep decline. Unfortunately, not every startup relationship is a perfect match. When a co-founder leaves earlier than expected, it’s critical to get ahead of the legal issues that follow. A co-founder’s
Data Room Checklist for Founders
In high-stakes transactions—such as M&A, equity financings, and IPOs—virtual data rooms (VDRs) are essential. A VDR is a secure digital repository used to store and share sensitive company documents during due diligence. Think of it as the digital version of a confidential folder founders provide to
The 4 types of Acquisitions (and Which One Leaves You with More Money)
When you sell your company, how the deal is structured can be just as important as the price. The right structure protects your payout, minimizes taxes, and keeps the deal on track. The wrong one can leave founders shortchanged or locked into unfavorable terms long after closing. Here’s what
What to Do When Your Startup is Dead
If you clicked on this article, things probably aren't going well. Acknowledging your business is dead is one of the hardest moments for a founder. But as difficult as it is, you still have work to do. At this point, you need to shift quickly from growth mode