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? Anyone who does IP law in Southern California seems to use Knobbe Martens.

Southern California 318

Southern California Silicon Valley IP Stock Options 318

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

There are many companies with phenomenal IP that is truly differentiated but where the original executive team squandered their opportunity due to inability to sell, market or service customers. There is often money to be made in finding places with under-valued IP. I saved my main point for last. ” (Warren Buffett).

Technical Review 150

Technical Review Liquidation Preference Silicon Valley IP 150

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

than to have to deal with healthcare benefit options, vacation policies, health-and-safety regulations and so forth. Stock option top-ups after a few years are vital retention mechanisms. Legal threats from other IP holders? Yet being a buttoned up company requires all this. And it turns out that employee reviews matter.

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? Stock Option plans. How do you think they’ll feel if your next round is at a $50 million post money valuation and their hard-earned $25,000 is worth 0.05% of your company? Him: Not so good. Obviously he’d be pissed off.

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

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 27, 2010

I learned how to retain employees when stock options were no longer a real currency. They seed funded my second company and even let me buy some IP in exchange for debt to get started. I learned how to integrate customers into our product development process. I was loyal to this group of people and still am.

Venture Capital 285

Venture Capital Hiring Software Review Stock Options 285

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 10, 2015

He had a stock option vesting program and had vested a significant amount of his stock but not all. He’s suing the company to get all of his stock options even though he signed a vesting agreement. I’m not being sued but the company is. Be formal with every employee contract – even with friends.

Vesting 150

Vesting Cofounder IP Stock Options 150