In this Feedback Session, startup lawyers and CEOs will explain various legal agreements, startup legal components (such as equity), cap tables, how to protect intellectual property, the best practices for managing a law firm, and more. As usual, Mentors will also provide Founders with ratings and feedback on their startup pitch and progress.
Incorporation is mandatory and any Founder that is not ready to incorporate should be asked to return to a different semester. Do not wait to drop them as they can poison the class.
This sesssion is sponsored by our long time legal partner since the start of FI Austin, Joe Daniels & Nelson Mullins. Nelson Mullins is committed to serving the most vulnerable in our society with social, economic and legal issues through pro bono service. The Firm engages in complex pro bono litigation, policy and legislative advocacy, and provides individual representation to a diverse group of people and organizations.
www.nelsonmullins.com
Sprints
Below are just a few of the 10-15 deliverables you’ll complete through Working Groups and Office Hours:
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Legal Review - Review our Legal Guide to fully understand all critical startup legal components, including granting equity, vesting equity, granting options, issuing common stock versus preferred stock, and more. If any of your existing legal structure is in conflict with these best practices, then create a plan for resolution.
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Capitalization Table - Develop or improve your capitalization table (“Cap Table”) that shows the ownership structure of the business, using our template and guidelines.
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Finalize Co-Founder Legal (if any) - Create a list of any co-founders, co-founder candidates or founding Team Members that you have for your Founder Institute company, and begin the next steps in formalizing the relationship.
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Law Firm Engagement - If you don’t already have a law firm, meet with your law firm candidates and sign an “engagement letter” with your chosen firm.
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Corporate Formation Agreements - If you don’t already have a suitable corporation, secure all of your corporate formation agreements which govern how the business conducts itself.
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Equity Collective - Prepare to join the Equity Collective, and send your law firm the necessary agreements and request their help to properly fill out the required fields.