What is Startup Legal Portal?

Access legal expertise with Startup Legal Portal, featuring 7 essential guides and over 100 FAQ items for founders and tech companies.

When should I incorporate my startup in Israel?

You can build a product before incorporating, but you should incorporate before accepting money, issuing equity, signing contracts in the company's name, or hiring employees. Incorporating early separates your personal liability from the company's, creates an entity that investors can fund, and makes the cap table real. The most common mistake is operating for months through personal accounts, which creates tax, ownership and liability problems that are expensive to unwind later. A short consultation at the very beginning can identify the right moment for your specific situation and prevent the structural mistakes that surface painfully during due diligence.

What legal entity should an Israeli startup choose?

Most Israeli tech startups incorporate as a private company limited by shares (LTD). This structure limits the founders' personal liability, allows the issuance of shares to investors and employees, and is the structure investors expect to see. A partnership or sole proprietorship is generally unsuitable for a venture that intends to raise capital, because investors invest in a company, not in individuals. In some cases a Delaware parent with an Israeli subsidiary is used, but that is a strategic decision involving tax and governance implications that should be made with legal and tax advice before incorporating, not after the company already exists and has obligations.

What should founders agree on before registering a company?

Before registering, founders should align on the questions that cause most disputes later: who the founders are, how equity is divided and whether it vests, what happens if a founder leaves early, who makes decisions and at what threshold, whether everyone is full-time, and how new shareholders are added. Writing these answers down turns a vague understanding into an enforceable arrangement and becomes the raw material for the founders agreement. Aligning before incorporation, while the founders are aligned and before money is involved, is far cheaper and easier than negotiating these terms after a dispute has started or after capital has entered the company.

How do I register an Israeli company?

Registration is done through the Companies Registrar: you register the company name, file articles of association, appoint directors, and identify the shareholders and their initial holdings. Once registered, the company receives a registration number and bylaws. You then open a bank account, register with the tax authorities, and report beneficial ownership. The articles of association are not a formality — they define voting rights, share classes and transfer restrictions — so they should be prepared or reviewed carefully rather than accepted as a standard template, especially if the company intends to raise capital or grant different share classes to investors.

Do I need a separate bank account for the company?

Yes. A registered company must open a dedicated bank account and route all business income and expenses through it. Mixing personal and company finances is one of the fastest ways to lose the liability protection a company provides, and it creates accounting and tax problems that surface during due diligence. A clean company account, with orderly books kept by a bookkeeper or accountant, is a basic prerequisite both for ongoing compliance and for presenting the company credibly to investors, who will review the bank records and financial statements as part of their assessment before transferring funds.

What tax registrations does a new Israeli company need?

A new company must register a VAT file and an income tax file, report its beneficial owners, and appoint a bookkeeper or accountant. The company becomes a separate taxpayer responsible for ongoing reporting and corporate tax on its profits. Delaying tax registration until the first invoice creates retroactive problems that are harder to fix than registering on time. Clean tax registration and orderly books are reviewed during due diligence, and disorder at this stage can delay or kill an investment round that is otherwise ready to close, because it raises questions about the company's overall discipline.

What legal documents does a startup need on day one?

At incorporation, the essentials are the articles of association, the founders agreement with vesting and IP assignment, and a cap table that matches the share issuances. As soon as people join, you need employment or consulting agreements with IP assignment and confidentiality. If you have a product, you need terms of service and a privacy policy that match its actual practices. Starting with this foundation is far cheaper than reconstructing it later during due diligence, when gaps become deal-breaking problems that must be fixed under time pressure while an investor is waiting.

Can I start a startup without a lawyer?

You can build a product and even register a company yourself, but the constitutional documents, founders agreement, IP assignments and the first investment documents should be prepared or reviewed with legal guidance. The cost of getting these right at the start is a fraction of the cost of fixing structural mistakes after money, employees or disputes are involved. A short consultation early can identify what to fix first and prevent the mistakes that are expensive to correct later, when the leverage to renegotiate terms has largely disappeared and more is at stake.

Should I incorporate in Israel or Delaware?

It depends on your target investors and market. Israeli incorporation is simpler and cheaper for an Israeli team and is fully sufficient for many rounds. A Delaware parent is often used when targeting US institutional investors or a US exit. Each path has tax, governance and reporting implications, and switching later can be costly and disruptive. This decision should be made deliberately, with both legal and tax advice, before you incorporate — not after you have already registered and begun operating under a structure that no longer fits your fundraising plans.

What is beneficial ownership reporting and is it mandatory?

Israeli law requires companies to report their beneficial owners — the individuals who ultimately control or own the company. This is a mandatory filing, not optional. Failing to report, or reporting inaccurately, can create compliance problems and raise questions during due diligence. It is a simple step at incorporation that should not be deferred, and it should be updated if ownership or control changes later, because stale or inaccurate reporting is treated by regulators and investors as a sign of weak corporate hygiene.

Do founders really need a written agreement?

Yes. Without a written agreement, the relationship between founders is governed only by default rules and verbal understandings, which are hard to enforce when disagreements arise. A founders agreement turns a verbal arrangement into a binding one that defines equity, vesting, roles, decision-making, IP ownership and departure. The cost of drafting it at the start is a fraction of the cost of resolving a founder dispute later, and many disputes are simply impossible to resolve fairly without an agreement that was signed while the founders were still aligned and trusting.

When should we sign a founders agreement?

Ideally at incorporation, or as early as possible after. The earlier it is signed, the easier it is to agree on terms while the founders are aligned and before circumstances change. Signing after a dispute has started, or after money has entered the company, is far harder and more expensive because leverage and trust have shifted. If you have already started without one, it is not too late — but the window for easy, good-faith agreement narrows as the company grows and as more money and people become involved.

How should founders split equity?

Equity should reflect each founder's expected long-term contribution, role and commitment, and it should be subject to vesting rather than granted immediately. A 50/50 split is common but not always right — equal splits with no vesting are a frequent source of disputes if one founder leaves early. The split should be documented in the founders agreement together with the vesting schedule, so that equity is earned over time and can be recovered if a founder departs before earning it, rather than remaining locked with someone no longer contributing.

What is vesting and why does it matter for founders?

Vesting means equity is earned over time rather than granted immediately. The most common schedule is four years with a one-year cliff: a founder earns nothing during the first year, then 25% vests at the cliff, and the remainder vests periodically thereafter. Without vesting, a founder who leaves after a short time keeps their full equity forever. Vesting lets the company recover unvested shares so it can continue, and it aligns founders around a shared long-term commitment rather than a one-time grant at the starting line.

What is a cliff in a founders agreement?

A cliff is a period at the start of the vesting schedule during which no equity vests — typically one year. If a founder leaves before the cliff, they vest nothing. On the day the cliff is reached, a block vests at once (commonly 25% under a four-year schedule), and the remainder continues periodically. The cliff protects the company during the highest-risk early months, when it is not yet clear whether the founder relationship will work, and it prevents a short-lived collaboration from permanently diluting the company with a non-contributing shareholder.

Who owns the intellectual property before incorporation?

By default, the creator often owns their work — not the company. Code written before incorporation, designs created by a freelancer, or know-how in a founder's head may belong to the individuals, not the company. Every founder should assign their relevant IP to the company in the founders agreement, covering past, present and future work. Without assignment, an investor's due diligence may reveal that the company does not own its own product — a problem that is cheap to prevent and expensive and uncertain to fix retroactively.

What happens if a co-founder leaves the startup?

The outcome depends on the founders agreement. With vesting, a departing founder keeps only vested shares and unvested shares return to the company. The agreement should distinguish a good leaver (who leaves for acceptable reasons) from a bad leaver (who leaves in breach), with different consequences for each. Without an agreement, a departing co-founder may keep their full equity, which often cripples the company. Defining the outcome in advance makes any departure predictable rather than chaotic, and protects the remaining founders and the company's ability to continue.

How do we resolve a deadlock between equal founders?

A 50/50 split with no deadlock mechanism can freeze the company when the founders disagree and neither can act. The founders agreement should include a deadlock resolution process — escalation to a senior advisor or mediator, a tie-breaking vote, or a buy-sell mechanism that lets one founder buy the other out under defined terms. Agreeing on this while the founders are aligned is far easier than negotiating it during an active dispute, when trust has already broken down and each side has incentives to obstruct.

Is a 50/50 equity split a good idea?

A 50/50 split can work, but only with vesting, a clear decision-making mechanism and a deadlock clause. Without these, an equal split creates two equal votes and no way to break a tie, which can paralyze the company on any major decision. Many disputes arise not from the split itself but from the absence of vesting and deadlock rules around it. The split should reflect expected contribution, and the agreement around it should handle the situations where contribution changes over time.

What is the difference between a good leaver and a bad leaver?

A good leaver leaves under acceptable circumstances — resignation by mutual agreement, death, disability — and typically retains vested shares. A bad leaver leaves in breach of the agreement — misconduct, breach of non-compete, abandoning the company — and may be required to sell even vested shares back to the company, often at a discount. The definitions should be explicit in the founders agreement; vague terms create disputes at exactly the moment the company is most vulnerable, when clarity matters most and goodwill is gone.

What is a term sheet and is it binding?

A term sheet is a summary of the principal terms of an investment, signed before the definitive agreements. It is usually non-binding on the economics and most terms, but certain clauses — exclusivity, confidentiality, expenses — can be binding immediately. Because the term sheet sets the framework, terms agreed here are hard to reopen later. The negotiation leverage a founder has is greatest before the term sheet is signed, which is why every term should be understood and negotiated before signing, not after the deal has been framed.

What is a SAFE and how does it work?

A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is not a loan. The investor pays money now in exchange for the right to receive shares in a future equity round. There is no maturity date, no interest, and typically no repayment obligation. Conversion usually happens at a qualified financing, at the lower of the valuation cap or the round price (often with a discount). SAFEs are fast and simple for very early rounds, but a cap that looked harmless early on can cause meaningful dilution at the priced round if it is not modeled in advance.

What is a convertible loan agreement (CLA)?

A convertible loan is debt that may convert into shares at a future event. Unlike a SAFE, it has a principal, interest, a maturity date, and often security or seniority. If conversion does not occur by maturity, the investor may be entitled to repayment. Conversion typically occurs at a qualified financing at the lower of the cap (with a discount) or the round price. CLAs are used when the investor wants debt-like protection, a maturity backstop, or when the round is larger and the investor has more leverage and wants downside protection.

SAFE vs convertible loan — which should I choose?

Neither is inherently better. A SAFE is simpler and faster, ideal for the earliest, fastest rounds with investors who accept deferred pricing. A convertible loan gives the investor more protection — maturity, interest, possible security — and is more common in slightly later rounds or with institutional investors who require a downside backstop. The terms (cap, discount, qualified financing) matter more than the label. The choice should be deliberate and the combined effect on the cap table should be modeled before signing either instrument.

What is a valuation cap?

A valuation cap is the maximum valuation at which a SAFE or convertible loan converts into shares. A lower cap gives the investor more shares for the same amount, increasing dilution for the founders. The cap protects the investor if the company raises a later round at a high valuation, by ensuring the early investment still converts at a favorable price. Caps should be modeled against the likely next round before accepting, because a cap that sounds reasonable can produce surprising dilution when it actually converts at the priced round.

What is a discount in a SAFE or convertible loan?

A discount is a percentage reduction applied to the round price at conversion — for example, 20% off the price of the next priced round. It rewards the early investor for taking risk before the valuation was set. The discount interacts with the cap: the investor typically gets the better of the cap or the discounted round price. Both the cap and the discount should be understood and modeled together, because their combined effect on dilution can be larger than either one alone suggests at first glance.

What is a liquidation preference?

A liquidation preference gives the investor the right to receive their investment back — often a multiple of it — before the remaining proceeds are distributed to other shareholders. A 1x non-participating preference is standard. Higher multiples (2x, 3x) or participating preferences (where the investor gets the preference and then also shares in the remainder) shift economics significantly toward the investor. The definition of a liquidation event and the seniority relative to other investors also matter and should be reviewed before signing, because they affect the waterfall on a sale.

What is anti-dilution protection?

Anti-dilution protection adjusts the investor's price if the company raises a later round at a lower price (a down round). Broad-based weighted average is the most common and balanced approach. Full ratchet is more aggressive: it adjusts the investor's price all the way down to the new lower price, heavily diluting the founders. The type of anti-dilution affects what happens in a down round, which is hard to predict at signing, so it should be understood and negotiated rather than accepted as boilerplate that seems standard.

What is due diligence and what will investors check?

Due diligence is the investor's investigation before committing funds. They check that the company legally exists and is in good standing, that the cap table is accurate and documented, that the company owns its intellectual property, that contracts and employment arrangements are in order, and that there are no undisclosed prior commitments. The goal for the founder is to arrive at due diligence with nothing surprising. Every issue you fix beforehand is one less obstacle between you and the money, and one less reason for the investor to walk away.

What investor rights should I expect in a term sheet?

Common investor rights include information rights (periodic financial and operating updates), pro-rata rights (the right to participate in future rounds), protective provisions (veto rights over major actions), board representation, and anti-dilution and liquidation preferences. Each right allocates control or economics toward the investor. Some are standard; others are negotiable. The combined effect of all rights — not just the valuation — determines what the founder is actually giving up, and should be reviewed as a whole before signing rather than term by term in isolation.

Do I need a data room before raising a round?

Yes. A data room — a structured collection of the company's legal, financial and business documents — dramatically shortens due diligence. It should include the certificate of incorporation, articles, founders agreement, cap table and share purchase agreements, employment and consulting agreements, IP assignments, customer and supplier contracts, prior investment instruments, and board minutes. Organizing it in advance is one of the highest-impact things a founder can do; a well-prepared company can close in weeks, while a disorganized one can take months or lose the deal entirely.

Can I raise money without setting a valuation?

Yes — through deferred-pricing instruments like a SAFE or convertible loan. These let the company raise capital now and set the share price at a later priced round, using a valuation cap and/or discount to protect the early investor. This is common at the earliest stages when valuation is difficult or contentious. The trade-off is that the terms (especially the cap) still affect dilution, so they should be modeled and negotiated even though the formal valuation is deferred to the next priced round.

What should an investor check before investing in a startup?

An investor should verify that the company legally exists and is in good standing, that the cap table is accurate and documented, that the company owns its intellectual property, that there are no undisclosed prior commitments, and that the investment documents (term sheet, SAFE, convertible loan) reflect the actual deal. The investor should understand what they receive in return — shares, SAFE, convertible loan — what rights they get, how they will be diluted in future rounds, and what happens if the company is sold or fails. Reviewing this before signing, not after, is strongly recommended.

How do I review a SAFE before investing?

Focus on the valuation cap, the discount, the qualified financing threshold, the conversion mechanics, and any pro-rata or MFN clauses. A lower cap or higher discount gives you more shares but may signal higher risk or a weaker negotiating position. Check what happens if no qualified financing occurs — whether the SAFE converts on a sale, on maturity (if any), or waits indefinitely. Understanding the exact conversion outcome under different scenarios is the core of reviewing a SAFE before signing, and it lets you compare the deal honestly against alternatives.

How do I review a startup cap table?

Check that every share issuance is backed by a share purchase agreement and the relevant resolutions, and that the cap table matches the paperwork. Look at both the issued and the fully diluted percentages, including the option pool and any convertible instruments. Understand the share classes and their rights. Model what the cap table looks like after your investment, including any converts that will trigger. Discrepancies between the cap table and the documents are a red flag that should be resolved before funds are transferred, not after.

How do I verify the company actually owns its IP?

Ask for IP assignment agreements from every founder, employee and freelancer who contributed to the product, covering past, present and future work. Check whether registrable IP (trademarks, patents) is held in the company's name. Confirm that open source usage is tracked and compliant, especially copyleft licenses. If the core product was built by someone who never signed an assignment, the company may not own what it is selling — a risk that should be identified and resolved before investing, while you still have leverage.

What are investor information rights?

Information rights are the investor's right to receive periodic financial and operating information from the company — typically unaudited financials, budgets, and material updates. They vary by investor type and round: larger investors often negotiate stronger rights, while small angels may receive less. Information rights let an investor monitor the company without participating in management. Their scope and frequency should be defined in the investment documents so the investor knows what they will receive and how often, before they commit their capital.

What is the risk of transferring funds before signing?

Transferring funds before a proper agreement is in place creates disputes over the rights, the number of shares, the investment terms, the conversion timing, and how funds are returned if the deal does not close. The investment should be documented first, with the funds transferred against signed documents and, where relevant, conditions precedent met. Wiring money on trust alone — even to a founder you know — can create tax, ownership and liability problems that are difficult to undo once the money has moved.

Can I invest as an angel in an Israeli startup?

Yes. Private individuals can invest in Israeli startups, including through SAFEs, convertible loans, or direct equity. The legal considerations are the same as for any investor: understand what you receive, verify the company and its documents, and review the investment instrument before signing. You do not need to be a fund to get legal counsel — even a relatively small angel investment deserves a review of the documents, because the terms bind you regardless of the size of your check.

Can a foreign investor invest in an Israeli startup?

Yes. Foreign individuals and entities can invest in Israeli startups, but the structure may involve additional considerations — tax, cross-border payments, the holding entity, and the governing law of the agreements. The investment documents can be drafted in English, and the review can be conducted in English and additional languages. A foreign investor should understand how their investment will be treated under Israeli law and how returns will flow back, ideally before the funds are transferred and before the documents are signed.

Should I use shares or a SAFE as an investor?

It depends on the company's stage, the deal structure, and your goals. A direct equity investment gives you shares and defined rights immediately but requires a priced round. A SAFE or convertible loan defers the price to a future round, which is faster but leaves your final ownership uncertain until conversion. Each path has different dilution, control and risk profiles. The right choice should follow from your investment thesis and a review of the specific terms, not from a default preference for one instrument over another.

What happens to my investment if the company fails?

It depends on the instrument and the company's capital structure. In a liquidation, secured creditors and employees are typically paid first; shareholders receive proceeds only if anything remains, and preferred shareholders (or those with a liquidation preference) are paid before common shareholders. A SAFE or convertible loan may or may not have converted by then. Understanding your position in the waterfall — what you are owed and in what order — before investing helps set realistic expectations about recovery in a downside scenario, which is the most common scenario for early-stage investments.

Who owns the code a founder writes before incorporation?

By default, the creator often owns the copyright — not the company. Code written before incorporation, or by a contributor without an IP assignment, may belong to the individual. Every founder should assign their relevant IP to the company in the founders agreement, covering past, present and future work. Without assignment, an investor's due diligence may reveal that the company does not own its own product — a problem that is cheap to prevent with an assignment and expensive and uncertain to fix retroactively.

Does the company own what a founder creates?

Only if the founder has assigned their rights to the company. Paying a founder, or being a founder, does not automatically transfer copyright ownership. An IP assignment clause in the founders agreement — covering work created before, during, and in connection with the venture — is what establishes the company's ownership. Without it, the founder may personally own rights the company depends on, which creates a gap that surfaces during due diligence and can delay or block an investment that was otherwise ready to close.

If I pay a freelancer, do I own what they create?

Not necessarily. Under default rules, the creator often owns the copyright unless there is a written assignment. Payment alone does not transfer ownership. A freelancer should sign a written agreement that includes an IP assignment, confidentiality, and a description of the scope — before the work begins. Without it, the freelancer may retain rights to the code, design, or content you paid for, and the company may not be able to freely modify, sell, or transfer the work it commissioned.

Do employees automatically assign IP to the company?

In Israel, certain employee inventions are assigned to the employer by default under specific conditions, but this is not a complete substitute for a written agreement. Employment agreements should include explicit IP assignment and confidentiality clauses covering work created in connection with the role. Relying on default rules alone is risky, because the scope and exceptions are not always clear. A written assignment removes ambiguity and gives the company clean, documented ownership that holds up during due diligence and in any future dispute.

When do I need an NDA?

An NDA is needed before you share confidential information — know-how, plans, technical details, customer data — with anyone outside the company: potential investors, partners, consultants, or acquirers. It prevents the recipient from using or disclosing the information and gives you recourse if they do. Internally, confidentiality obligations in employment and founders agreements keep know-how inside the company when people leave. NDAs should be signed before the disclosure, not after, to be effective, because once information is out it generally cannot be made confidential again.

Should I register a trademark for my startup?

Registration gives the strongest protection for your name, logo and key product names, and the ability to prevent others from using confusingly similar marks. Before committing to a brand, you should run an availability search to avoid the costly discovery, after marketing spend, that the name is already taken. Registering the marks in the company's name, and registering domains in the company's name rather than a founder's, protects the brand as a company asset from the start and prevents it being tied to an individual.

Can I use open source code in my startup?

Yes, but each license has terms. Some require attribution; some (copyleft) require that derivative works be released under the same license, which can obligate you to disclose your own proprietary source code. Using a copyleft component in proprietary software is a serious problem that can surface during due diligence. Track the open source components you use and their licenses, review obligations before integration, and pay particular attention to copyleft licenses and their effect on your proprietary code before the dependency becomes deeply embedded.

How do I protect trade secrets and know-how?

Much of a startup's value is not registrable — algorithms, business methods, customer insights, technical know-how. These are protected by confidentiality, not by registration. NDAs with external parties and confidentiality clauses in employment and founders agreements keep know-how inside the company. Limiting access to those who need it, documenting what is confidential, and acting consistently with confidentiality all strengthen protection. Once a trade secret is publicly disclosed, it generally cannot be reclaimed, so protection is preventive and must be in place before disclosure occurs.

Startup Legal FAQ

Startup legal FAQ for founders, investors and tech companies

Clear, practical answers to 102+ common legal questions across 10 categories — covering incorporation, founders agreements, fundraising, SAFE and convertible loans, intellectual property, employee options, disputes, flexible fees and international support.

Starting a Startup

(10)

Founders Agreement

(10)

Investment & Fundraising

(12)

Investor Legal Review

(10)

Intellectual Property

(10)

Employee Options & Equity

(10)

Still have a question?

Get a clear answer for your specific situation — book a consultation.

Legal Retainer / Ongoing Counsel

(10)

Founder Disputes

(10)

Flexible Legal Fees / Equity Compensation

(10)

International / Multilingual Startup Legal Support

(10)

Go deeper — in-depth guides

All Guides How to Start a Startup Founders Agreement Checklist SAFE vs Convertible Loan Cap Table Explained Startup IP Checklist

Early-stage founder?

Not sure what legal steps your startup needs? Get a quick legal fit-check before you incorporate, sign, or raise capital.

Investing in a startup?

Review the SAFE, term sheet or investment agreement before you sign or transfer funds — and understand your rights and risks.

Adv. & Notary Zion Bahalul

A lawyer specializing in business-legal counsel for startups, founders, tech companies and investors. Extensive experience in founders agreements, fundraising, intellectual property, equity compensation and founder disputes. Service in Hebrew, English and Spanish.

Startup legal FAQ for founders, investors and tech companies

Starting a Startup

When should I incorporate my startup in Israel?

What legal entity should an Israeli startup choose?

What should founders agree on before registering a company?

How do I register an Israeli company?

Do I need a separate bank account for the company?

What tax registrations does a new Israeli company need?

What legal documents does a startup need on day one?

Can I start a startup without a lawyer?

Should I incorporate in Israel or Delaware?

What is beneficial ownership reporting and is it mandatory?

Founders Agreement

Do founders really need a written agreement?

When should we sign a founders agreement?

How should founders split equity?

What is vesting and why does it matter for founders?

What is a cliff in a founders agreement?

Who owns the intellectual property before incorporation?

What happens if a co-founder leaves the startup?

How do we resolve a deadlock between equal founders?

Is a 50/50 equity split a good idea?

What is the difference between a good leaver and a bad leaver?

Investment & Fundraising

What is a term sheet and is it binding?

What is a SAFE and how does it work?

What is a convertible loan agreement (CLA)?

SAFE vs convertible loan — which should I choose?

What is a valuation cap?

What is a discount in a SAFE or convertible loan?

What is a liquidation preference?

What is anti-dilution protection?

What is due diligence and what will investors check?

What investor rights should I expect in a term sheet?

Do I need a data room before raising a round?

Can I raise money without setting a valuation?

Investor Legal Review

What should an investor check before investing in a startup?

How do I review a SAFE before investing?

How do I review a startup cap table?

How do I verify the company actually owns its IP?

What are investor information rights?

What is the risk of transferring funds before signing?

Can I invest as an angel in an Israeli startup?

Can a foreign investor invest in an Israeli startup?

Should I use shares or a SAFE as an investor?

What happens to my investment if the company fails?

Intellectual Property

Who owns the code a founder writes before incorporation?

Does the company own what a founder creates?

If I pay a freelancer, do I own what they create?

Do employees automatically assign IP to the company?

When do I need an NDA?

Should I register a trademark for my startup?

Can I use open source code in my startup?

How do I protect trade secrets and know-how?

What will an investor check about my IP?

Should my startup file patents?

Employee Options & Equity

What are employee stock options?

What is an option plan and do I need one?

How does vesting work for employee options?

What is the cliff for employee options?

How is the exercise price set?

What is an option pool and who does it dilute?

What is Section 102 in Israel?

What happens to my options if I leave the company?

Can advisors receive shares or options?

Do investors check the option plan during due diligence?

Still have a question?

Legal Retainer / Ongoing Counsel

What is a startup legal retainer?

Does a startup need external legal counsel?

What does a startup legal retainer usually include?

When should a startup move to a monthly retainer?

Can a retainer include contract drafting?

Do SaaS startups need special legal support?

What commercial agreements does a startup need?

Can a retainer help before fundraising?

Is a retainer cheaper than hourly billing?