CONTENT CENTER
Creating a Board of Directors: Key Considerations for Startup Companies
By Keunjung Cho
One of the most important decisions that a startup entrepreneur can make is creating a board of directors that will assist the entrepreneur in growing and governing the business. A company’s board of directors is tasked with overseeing and advising management, making key decisions about the company’s business strategies, and representing the interests of the company and its stockholders.
Five Common Equity Incentive Plan Mistakes
Equity Incentive Plans (aka, Stock Option Plans) are a standard feature in nearly every start-up. Although the basic concept (granting an equity interest to an employee or other service provider) is simple enough, there are a few administrative and legal technicalities that need to be respected. Below is a list of five common mistakes that start-ups make when administering their Equity Incentive Plans.
How to Distribute Equity in Your Start-Up
By Patrick Elahmadie
The purpose of granting equity to management, employees and certain consultants is to align the interests of the parties pivotal to the growth of your company with the interests of investors. There are a number of different ways to grant equity in a start-up, the most common of which is stock options
Employment Law Basics In California
Jennifer Rubin, a Member in the Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice, and Sebastian Lucier, a Member in the Venture Capital & Emerging Companies Practice, discuss employment law related matters for companies operating in the state of California, including the challenges relating to characterizing an individual as an employee rather than an independent contractor.
MintzEdge Entrepreneur Perspective: Building for Success - John Sarkisian (Motion Ventures)
In this podcast, Jeff Belk, an early employee of Qualcomm and serial entrepreneur and investor, explains why it is important to build a great board of directors and how to communicate to your board most effectively.
MintzEdge 101: Why Your Startup Needs A CFO – Jeff Gilford (BlackFord Partners)
In this podcast, Jeremy Glaser, co-chair of Mintz Levin’s Venture Capital & Emerging Companies Practice, discusses the role of the CFO in growing companies with Jeff Gilford, co-founder and principal of BlackFord Partners, Inc.
New York City Bans Salary History Inquiries
By Alexander Song
In accordance with a new regulation that took effect on October 31st, 2017, New York City employers are now prohibited from inquiring about or relying on salary history during the hiring process.
MintzEdge 101: Why Your Management Team Is So Important - Carrie Stone (CStone & Associates)
In this podcast, Carrie Stone discusses the importance of management in the financing process and how venture capitalists assess management teams prior to making an investment decision.
Are You An Owner Or Employee? The Inflexibility of the Federal Tax Rules To Be Treated As Both
By Dan Wilcox and Scott Pinarchick
Over the last twenty years or so, the limited liability company (“LLC”) has become a popular entity choice as a business entity. An LLC offers a great deal of flexibility in how it is structured and operates, including the ability for its owners to decide to be classified as a partnership, S corporation, C corporation or, if there is only one owner, to be disregarded as an entity for federal income tax purposes.
Complementary Team Members - Marc Andreessen's Netscape Team
If Netscape didn't do this, it probably would not have changed the world. Find out why complementary team members are essential to your company's success.
Managing Your Board of Directors - Why Honest, Open Communication Matters
Want to keep your job as CEO? Jeremy Glaser believes that you need to treat your board like you treat others in all successful relationships - from your company to your marriage!
Avoid Rookie Entrepreneur Mistakes - Asking the Right, Experienced People
Asking the right people for the right advice can mean everything for your startup.
The Gig Economy, Independent Contractors, and New York Law
The gig economy (on-demand work) is a disruptive factor in many industries, including the housing market (Airbnb, Homeaway), transportation services (Uber, Lyft, Juno, Via), delivery services (Postmates, Caviar, Instacart), and beauty services (Glamsquad, The Glam App). Time Magazine conducted a study which revealed that more than 90 million U.S. adults have participated in the gig economy, with at least 45 million U.S. adults earning income as a provider ofThe Gig Economy, Independent Contractors, and New York Law such goods or services.
Building a Startup Team - "Smartest Person in the Room" Syndrome
Watch Jeremy Glaser discuss how building a team with various skills is a recipe for success.
Immigration Considerations for a Start-Up Company
By Susan Cohen
Important considerations include the type of incorporation, proof of funding, and the effect on existing operations of the start-up.
H-1B Checklist for Start-Up Company
By Susan Cohen
The following checklist provides a blueprint for the necessary H1-B steps but should not replace the advice of counsel.
A Balanced Approach to Founder's Equity
By Dan DeWolf and Samuel Effron
The most successful start-up ventures are companies where the economic interests of the various stakeholders are sufficiently aligned. If an enterprise can find the right balance among the competing interests of the founders, investors, management, and directors, it has a far greater chance of succeeding. If the right balance is not reached, there will be too much time spent on in-fighting instead of being laser focused on accelerating the growth of the enterprise.
Why You Should be Using a Board of Advisors and How to Get the Most Benefit From It
By Jeremy Glaser and Jen Rubin
Start-ups can use all the sound advice they can get, especially if they can get it for free. One source of “free” advice is an advisory board made up of people who can add value to your business.
Why Does a Company Issue Stock Options?
By Dan DeWolf
One of the critical keys to a successful venture is aligning the interests of the employees and management with the interests of the shareholders/investors. After all, perhaps the greatest asset of a company is its people. Without a competent and motivated workforce, a venture is unlikely to succeed no matter how great an idea or business concept is involved.
Starting a startup as CTO / Head of Product
By Lauren Mosenthal of Gust.com
After less than a year, Glassbreakers is now a team of 10, we have thousands of active users on our free product, we’ve expanded into enterprises with paying customers and raised over a million in seed funding. After a few of my Glassbreaker matches inquired, I started to reflect on what it’s like to build a startup as a CTO / Head of Product. I wanted to share my journey, advice and insights to others who are starting out as product leaders.
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