Founder notes
A little insight.A clearer next move.
Original educational notes on formation, founders, fundraising, software, and the business of building.
13 FOUNDER NOTES / ALL
FORMATION
Should Your Startup Be an LLC or a Delaware C-Corporation?↗
Start with the business you intend to build, not the entity your last startup used.
FOUNDERS
What Should a Founders Agreement Cover?↗
Shared ambition is a beginning. Clear expectations help the relationship endure.
EQUITY
What Is Founder Vesting?↗
Vesting connects an ownership arrangement to continued contribution.
FOUNDER ESSENTIALS
What Is an 83(b) Election?↗
A small filing can involve a strict deadline and significant tax consequences.
FUNDRAISING
What Is a SAFE?↗
An early financing document with consequences that extend into later rounds.
FUNDRAISING
SAFE vs Convertible Note↗
Similar goals do not mean identical obligations.
SAAS & CONTRACTS
What Should Be in a SaaS Agreement?↗
The commercial promise should match what the product and team can deliver.
TEAM EQUITY
When Should a Startup Create an Option Pool?↗
Reserve equity with the hiring plan in view.
TEAM EQUITY
How Much Equity Should an Advisor Receive?↗
Define the contribution before discussing a percentage.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Who Owns Code Written by a Contractor?↗
Paying an invoice does not necessarily complete the ownership transfer.
FUNDRAISING
What Investors Review During Legal Due Diligence↗
A clean company story is supported by a clean set of records.
GOVERNANCE
What Changes Legally After Your First Financing?↗
Closing is a milestone, not the end of the legal work.
SAAS & CONTRACTS
What Should a Startup Put in an Enterprise Customer Agreement?↗
A large customer can change the contract conversation.
+LOS ANGELES / WHAT COMES NEXT
Built by people.Built for possibility.
A company is more than its documents. It is the people, work, and ambition behind them.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION.
Let’s talk about
what you’re building.
Tell Ethan where the company is today
and what needs to happen next.