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Raising angel & Venture Capital: Getting Your Legal Ducks in a Row	 Mark J. Graffagnini Managing Partner Graffagnini+Associates, LLP New Orleans, LA
Background	 Graffagnini+Associates, LLP founded in January 2010 Focus on start-up company and venture capital investor representation over last several years Formerly with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC in Palo Alto, CA Formerly with Lemle & Kelleher, LLP in New Orleans, LA Entrepreneur www.maximumgen.com www.cleantechlawandbusiness.com www.nanolabweb.com
Overview	 Early Stage Legal Issues
So, now you’re an entrepreneur:choosing the right entity
Now you’ve chosen the right entity for you—founders issues
Founders’ Issues (cont’d)
Founders’ Issues (cont’d) Clean IP Assignments Applies to ALL employees, contractors, etc. and in various agreements Full coverage is beyond scope of this presentation Pay for your stock/interests!! Should be able to document payment and issuance “Fully paid and non-assessable” Mistakes:  Case of mistaken identity Poor documentation can lead to disputes Not keeping “cap table” clean
What’s a “Cap Table”
One Portion of a Complex Cap Table
Employee Incentive Plans
Employee Incentive Plans (cont’d)
Raising Seed Capital:The “Family & Friends” Round
Angel & Venture Capital—Deal Documents & Issues
Seriously?! What’s this gonna cost me?! Attorney’s fees vary widely Negotiate with your attorney: Value Billing/Start-up packages Hourly rates and lawyers on your file Investor’s counsel fees & caps
Seriously?! Why Bother?! My business is good & I have enough to worry about! Correcting mistakes is far more costly Happy employees Happy investors Roadmaps Credibility!!!
Conclusion	 Entrepreneurship is a difficult road, and you have enough to worry about Good documents and corporate practices give you peace of mind View them as a roadmap for administration and successful business Questions?

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Graffagnini raising angel & venture capital

  • 1. Raising angel & Venture Capital: Getting Your Legal Ducks in a Row Mark J. Graffagnini Managing Partner Graffagnini+Associates, LLP New Orleans, LA
  • 2. Background Graffagnini+Associates, LLP founded in January 2010 Focus on start-up company and venture capital investor representation over last several years Formerly with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC in Palo Alto, CA Formerly with Lemle & Kelleher, LLP in New Orleans, LA Entrepreneur www.maximumgen.com www.cleantechlawandbusiness.com www.nanolabweb.com
  • 3. Overview Early Stage Legal Issues
  • 4. So, now you’re an entrepreneur:choosing the right entity
  • 5. Now you’ve chosen the right entity for you—founders issues
  • 7. Founders’ Issues (cont’d) Clean IP Assignments Applies to ALL employees, contractors, etc. and in various agreements Full coverage is beyond scope of this presentation Pay for your stock/interests!! Should be able to document payment and issuance “Fully paid and non-assessable” Mistakes: Case of mistaken identity Poor documentation can lead to disputes Not keeping “cap table” clean
  • 8. What’s a “Cap Table”
  • 9. One Portion of a Complex Cap Table
  • 12. Raising Seed Capital:The “Family & Friends” Round
  • 13. Angel & Venture Capital—Deal Documents & Issues
  • 14. Seriously?! What’s this gonna cost me?! Attorney’s fees vary widely Negotiate with your attorney: Value Billing/Start-up packages Hourly rates and lawyers on your file Investor’s counsel fees & caps
  • 15. Seriously?! Why Bother?! My business is good & I have enough to worry about! Correcting mistakes is far more costly Happy employees Happy investors Roadmaps Credibility!!!
  • 16. Conclusion Entrepreneurship is a difficult road, and you have enough to worry about Good documents and corporate practices give you peace of mind View them as a roadmap for administration and successful business Questions?