Cooley Protect – Patent Resource Center

Create and Protect

Cooley Protect is a free resource designed by Cooley’s patent counseling & prosecution team.

Introducing Cooley GO in Asia

Cooley GO in Asia offers the same free founder-focused legal resources and document generators that the US and UK ecosystems have come to trust.

Equity Crowdfunding – Is It For You?

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This article is an overview of equity crowdfunding and its basic requirements, along with a discussion of some of its benefits and burdens to companies.

Q4 2020 Quarterly VC Update: Sean Barrett on the State of Venture Capital Investing

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In conjunction with our Q4 Venture Financing Report, I sat down with Sean Barrett of HMI Capital to get his take on the state of venture capital investing.

Diversity Rider for Term Sheets

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In an effort to further advance diversity efforts and increase the representation of underrepresented minority groups on cap tables, Cooley GO’s term sheets include the option for a diversity rider, which requires startups and their investors to seek diverse co-investors in their deals.

Super Voting Stock: What is it and how can I get it?

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Very often founders raise the concern about protecting against dilution.  Specifically, they are concerned that, as they grow their business and issue stock to investors, employees, and advisors, their shares, and therefore their voting power, will be diluted.

Cap Table

Glossary Term

A capitalization table, or cap table, is a list of your company’s equity securities, including stock, options and warrants, that identifies how many shares are outstanding and who owns those securities

Prep to Sell – Getting Ready for an M&A Exit

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OK, so you have made the decision to explore a sale of your company. What can you do to make the deal go smoothly and put your best foot forward?

10 Suggestions for UK Entrepreneurs Preparing to Raise Venture Capital

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The first rule of successful fundraising from VCs is: Be Prepared. Read these suggestions before you hit the road.

Post-Incorporation Checklist: 10 Next Steps to Consider

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You’ve taken the plunge and formed your business as a Delaware corporation. What do you need to do next?

Frequently Asked Questions: Convertible Debt

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How do you show convertible debt on your cap table? Can you bring investors in at different times? What happens if you can't repay your investors? Check out the answers to these and several more frequently asked questions about convertible debt and convertible notes.

How to Allocate Stock to Founders and Other Early Team Members

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One question I get asked all the time by a team founding a startup is how to allocate stock among the two or three initial founders. This stock allocation question is particularly difficult to answer at the start.

Choosing the Right Cap Table Platform

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At its most basic level, a cap table is just a list of your company’s securities (i.e., stock, options, warrants, etc.) and who owns those securities. A cap table should tell you “who owns what.” More complex cap tables may also include formulas that model out various hypothetical transactions.

Sample Cap Table (Pro Forma)

Sample

Download a sample capitalization table with pro-forma calculations based on new round pricing.

Sample Cap Table (Simple)

Sample

Download a sample capitalization table showing current capitalization including options.

There is No Such Thing as “Founder Stock” (legally speaking)

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Founder Stock may not be what you think it is.

8 Suggestions for Entrepreneurs Preparing to Raise Venture Capital

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Is your story compelling enough to interest venture capital investors? Do you have demonstrable results? Customer traction? Patented intellectual property? Find out what you should be thinking about before you start to look for venture capital.

Negotiating Term Sheets: Focus on What’s Important

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When you receive a term sheet from a VC for a full preferred stock financing, the abundance and variety of terms might seem overwhelming. It can be difficult to understand what terms are really important when you don’t have experience living with those terms.