Equity & Ownership 2/3

Setting Up an S Corporation? Consider How It Affects Founder Stock

If you are starting a business, be careful not to rush to set your company up as an S corporation without first considering the qualified...

5 Things to Know Before Joining a Startup Accelerator

Nov 18, 20184 min read

5 Things to Know Before Joining a Startup Accelerator

Startup accelerators offer an attractive funding and support option to early-stage companies. While they often get lumped together with...

Employer’s Legal Guide to Stock Option Grants [Checklist]

Nov 11, 20184 min read

Employer’s Legal Guide to Stock Option Grants [Checklist]

If you want to grant stock options to employees, consultants and advisors, you will want to take the time to do this right. It is easy to...

Funding for Entrepreneurs from Underrepresented Communities

Jan 23, 20184 min read

Webinars

Funding for Entrepreneurs from Underrepresented Communities

A recent webinar co-hosted by Lighter Capital and Founders First Capital Partners offered insight into how revenue-based financing (RBF)...

4 Startup Milestones to Reach Before Raising Series A

Aug 22, 20173 min read

4 Startup Milestones to Reach Before Raising Series A

While seed funding is more abundant than ever (the number of seed-funded companies has quadrupled in the last four years), Series A...

Jul 25, 20173 min read

How to Tell If an Investor Is a Bad Fit

Pitching investors and knocking on doors for growth capital is an all-consuming process. Not only does it require countless coffee...

How Venture Capital Is Like a Hamster Wheel

May 23, 20174 min read

How Venture Capital Is Like a Hamster Wheel

Entrepreneurs fighting to reach $1M in annual revenue have a one-track mind. Ask one how they plan to raise capital to meet their sales...

Jun 2, 20163 min read

Legal Guide to Revenue Loans

Revenue loans are an increasingly common way for businesses to fund their growth. You might be wondering, from a legal perspective, how...

How to Get the Funding that Best Fits Your Startup

Apr 11, 20161 min read

How to Get the Funding that Best Fits Your Startup

If you’re trying to raise money for your business, there are now many alternatives to VC funding, particularly for smaller tech...

Top 5 Things to Know About Convertible Debt Structure

Sep 14, 20153 min read

Top 5 Things to Know About Convertible Debt Structure

Understanding the convertible debt structure is essential to making smart startup funding decisions. Here are 5 things you need to know.

What Is Convertible Debt and Why Is It So Popular With Early-Stage Startups?

Aug 26, 20155 min read

What Is Convertible Debt and Why Is It So Popular With Early-Stage Startups?

Convertible debt financing is a popular fundraising solution for early-stage startups. Learn how it works and what to look out for in these

A Hidden Pitfall of Convertible Debt: Full Ratchet Anti-Dilution Rights

Jul 28, 20153 min read

A Hidden Pitfall of Convertible Debt: Full Ratchet Anti-Dilution Rights

What are anti-dilution rights? And what is a full ratchet? Here's what startups need to know about convertible debt terms.

Liquidation Preference Multiples: The Hidden Trap of Convertible Debt

Jul 15, 20155 min read

Liquidation Preference Multiples: The Hidden Trap of Convertible Debt

What are liquidation preference multiples and how can startup founders avoid deals with early investors that can cause big headaches later?

4 Reasons Why Too Many Angel Investors Can Be Problematic

Jul 10, 20153 min read

4 Reasons Why Too Many Angel Investors Can Be Problematic

Recently, the New York Times published a popular post about the right number of angel investors for startups. The story, titled For...

The Difference Between Participating and Non-Participating Preferred Stock

Jun 29, 20154 min read

The Difference Between Participating and Non-Participating Preferred Stock

Founders often have questions about different types of equity they can offer investors. Here's what you should know about preferred stock.

Jun 16, 20154 min read

Why VCs Only Invest in C Corporations

Not all corporations are created equal. Learn Why VCs prefer C-Corps and explore funding alternatives if you're startup isn't one.

Why you need to have a founders’ agreement in place

Jun 12, 20153 min read

Why you need to have a founders’ agreement in place

One business risk many startups overlook is the relationship between cofounder(s). They assume formal agreements are unnecessary. Big...

Beyond Sand Hill Road: Can Debt Be Growth Capital?

May 22, 20154 min read

Beyond Sand Hill Road: Can Debt Be Growth Capital?

Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California is the epicenter of VC. While many tech founders dream of scoring a deal with one of...

What Startups Need to Know About Convertible Equity

May 1, 20153 min read