Seed-stage investors don’t like top-heavy companies: CEO, COO, CXO, CYO, VP of X, Y, and Z. No sophisticated investor is impressed by titles in an early stage startup. One of the founders should be the CEO so you can make decisions quickly.). CEO, founders, engineers, salesmen, marketers. MORE >>

Yet, I also think that the recent trend of new financing rounds cashing out founders also sends the wrong signal. lot of the super-angels and early stage guys are arguing that it makes sense to put some cash in founders pockets as it usually takes longer than expected to reach an exit. couldn't agree more. MORE >>

Say what you want to about law firms, but some of them have nailed a great branding hack: they have taken a stodgy service provider offering and “startupized&# it by customizing and branding their work to appeal to founders. But the mere fact that so many first-time founders understand the value of a great law firm is pretty remarkable. MORE >>

Should you have a board seat for seed investors? Does a small seed round need protective provisions? Before you raise a seed round, you need a product in the marketplace. What are the different types of seed stage investors? If you’re talking to a VC, make sure they really do seed stage rounds. MORE >>

When a company is at its earliest seed stage, the terms tend to be the least complex. The first capital a young company receives usually takes the form of common stock, the same class of shares the founders hold. Investors may provide money in stages or tranches, based on defined milestones, to decrease investment risk. MORE >>