What Is Founders Preferred (FF) Stock and Should I Set It Up? You’re forming your startup. The incorporation documents are almost complete, and your attorney asks a question you’ve never heard before. Do you want to create Founders Preferred stock? It sounds important, but there are countless other decisions competing for your attention. You decide […]
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What Happens to My SAFE If I Get Acquired Before a Priced Round? Your startup raised money using SAFEs. The company has not completed a priced equity round yet, but now an acquisition offer is on the table. The headline purchase price looks exciting, and everyone begins estimating what they will receive after closing. Then
What Happens to My SAFE If I Get Acquired Before a Priced Round? Read More »
What Happens to My Equity in a Recapitalization or Cram-Down Round? Your startup is running out of cash. Existing investors begin discussing a recapitalization. New investors are interested, but only if the company’s capital structure is reorganized first. Then you hear another term. Cram-down round. For many founders, this is the moment they realize the
What Happens to My Equity in a Recapitalization or Cram-Down Round? Read More »
What Does the SEC’s 2026 Crypto Guidance Mean for My Token? For years, crypto founders struggled with the same question: Is my token a security? The answer often seemed unclear. Different enforcement actions, court decisions, and regulatory statements left many projects uncertain about how federal securities laws applied to their tokens. The SEC’s 2026 guidance
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What Does My Venture Fund K-1 Actually Tell Me at Tax Time? Your venture fund finally sends your Schedule K-1. Unfortunately, it arrives months after you expected it. Your tax return is almost ready to file, and the form contains unfamiliar line items for interest, capital gains, deductions, and other tax items. Then your accountant
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What Business Insurance Does My Startup Actually Need? Insurance is rarely a founder’s favorite expense. When cash is limited, product development, hiring, and customer acquisition naturally feel more urgent than paying insurance premiums. Then something goes wrong. A customer claims your software caused financial losses. A cyberattack exposes sensitive user data. An employee files a
What Business Insurance Does My Startup Actually Need? Read More »
Learn how VC investment structuring drives startup growth with proven deal frameworks and strategic planning tactics.
VC Investment Structuring: Structuring Deals for Growth Read More »
Should I Set Up Dual-Class Stock to Keep Control of My Startup? You’re preparing for your first venture capital round. As you read stories about founders losing control of their companies, one solution keeps appearing: dual-class stock. The concept sounds appealing. If you hold shares with extra voting power, won’t you always stay in control?
Should I Set Up Dual-Class Stock to Keep Control of My Startup? Read More »
How Much Should My Fund Manager Have Invested in Their Own Fund? You are evaluating a venture fund. The investment strategy looks promising. The track record appears strong. The manager speaks confidently about sourcing deals and creating long-term value. Then an important question comes up during due diligence: How much of their own money have
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How Do Equity Refresh Grants Work as My Startup Scales? Your startup has grown significantly over the past few years. Some of your earliest employees have been with the company since the beginning. Their original stock option grants are almost fully vested, and recruiters have started reaching out with attractive offers that include fresh equity
How Do Equity Refresh Grants Work as My Startup Scales? Read More »
Does My VC Fund Have to File California’s Diversity Report in 2026? Many venture fund managers spent months preparing for California’s new diversity reporting requirements. Founder demographic questionnaires were distributed. Internal compliance procedures were updated. Teams worked toward the first reporting deadline of April 1, 2026. Then everything changed. Just weeks before the deadline, the
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Does My Startup Have to Report Its Foreign Bank Accounts? Your startup recently expanded internationally. Perhaps you opened a bank account for a foreign subsidiary. Maybe you hired employees overseas or began serving customers in another country. You might even have signing authority over an affiliate’s foreign bank account. At first, these seem like ordinary
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Could My Former Employer Own the IP I Built for My Startup? You started working on your startup while you still had a full-time job. Most of the work happened during evenings and weekends. You used your own ideas, and you believe the product belongs entirely to you. Then investor due diligence begins. One of
Could My Former Employer Own the IP I Built for My Startup? Read More »
Master startup commercial contracts with proven negotiation strategies to protect your business and secure better deals.
Startup Commercial Contracts: Mastering Essential Negotiations Read More »
Which Decisions Need Board, Stockholder, or Investor Approval at My Startup? In the early days of a startup, decision-making is simple. The founders discuss an issue, make a choice, and move forward. That changes after outside investors come in. A financing round introduces new governance requirements, new approval rights, and new stakeholders who may have
Which Decisions Need Board, Stockholder, or Investor Approval at My Startup? Read More »
What US Visa Do I Need to Run My Startup as a Foreign Founder? You have validated your business idea, started speaking with customers, and are preparing to launch your company in the United States. Then a practical question appears: what visa actually allows you to build and operate the business? Many founders assume there
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What Should Be in My Founder Employment Agreement Before I Raise? Your startup is about to close a priced round. The financing documents are moving quickly. Investors are focused on diligence, board approvals, and closing mechanics. Then, a founder employment agreement or offer letter arrives in your inbox. At first glance, it looks routine. Many
What Should Be in My Founder Employment Agreement Before I Raise? Read More »
What Is Qualified Financing and When Does It Convert My SAFE or Note? Many founders raise money through SAFEs and convertible notes because they are faster and simpler than negotiating a priced equity round. At first, the process feels straightforward. Investors provide capital, the company keeps growing, and everyone assumes the next financing round will
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What Happens to My Team’s Equity in an Acquihire? A larger company approaches your startup with an acquisition proposal. After years of building, fundraising, and navigating uncertainty, the conversation feels like a breakthrough. Your team is excited. Employees start imagining what their stock options might be worth. Founders begin thinking about acquisition proceeds and future
What Happens to My Team’s Equity in an Acquihire? Read More »
What Does the New Federal Stablecoin Law Mean for My Startup? For years, stablecoins operated in one of the most uncertain areas of US regulation. Many startups built products around stablecoin payments, treasury management, cross-border transfers, and digital asset infrastructure without a clear federal framework explaining exactly who could issue stablecoins and what compliance obligations
What Does the New Federal Stablecoin Law Mean for My Startup? Read More »
