Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 21, 2010

Shame about not getting it in legal writing that you owned the original IP. Forget to get around to setting up that Employee Stock Option Plan and want to be able to give the early guys their options at a low strike price? Founded it as a California LLC but your potential VC wants a Delaware C-Corp?

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

It’s such a tricky balance between being cost-focused & scrappy versus being impractical with how you spend your time. What if you are measuring CAC wrongly and you’re really not acquiring customers cost effectively? Stock option top-ups after a few years are vital retention mechanisms. And so must you.

Operations 150

Operations Metrics Early Stage Non-Compete 150

Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? There are a million ways to do quick, easy, low-cost rounds with prices. Stock Option plans. They already locked in stock at a lower price. Him: Not so good. Obviously he’d be pissed off. Me: I know. My colleague: Whoa.

Venture Capital 417

Venture Capital Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet 417

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 17, 2009

To the best of my knowledge US law allows you to work on your own resources and in your own hours and let you personally own your IP. In some countries outside the US (the UK for example) employers can specify in an employment contract that ANY IP you develop while you’re employed by that company is owned by them.

Founder Vesting 365

Founder Vesting Intellectual Property Stock Options IP 365

Gust

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Less than you’ll probably grant your most junior employees in stock options? There are a million ways to do quick, easy, low-cost rounds with prices. Stock Option plans. They already locked in stock at a lower price. Him: Not so good. Obviously he’d be pissed off. I hadn’t really thought about it.

Liquidation Preference 153

Liquidation Preference Valuation Term Sheet Stock 153

Gust

DECEMBER 8, 2011

From choosing a legal entity or jurisdiction to properly documenting IP assignments and stock issuances to complying with securities laws and avoiding potentially enormous tax penalties in the future, there is plenty here to warrant consulting a professional. Caveat entrepreneur !

Intellectual Property 139

Intellectual Property Non-disclosure Agreement Delaware Stock 139

Startup Company Lawyer

JULY 20, 2009

Please keep in mind that even if a company is incorporated, founder stock purchase agreements with repurchase rights over unvested stock if founders leave are not included with the documents from typical online incorporation services. Issuing stock options. Creating intellectual property.

IP 67

IP Stock Options Preferred Stock Capital Gains 67