QUESTION:
I’m an exec at a startup, and there’s a lot of talk about a possible merger. If there’s a merger, what will happen to my unvested options?
ANSWER:
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Mark Greenough
I was having a great dinner recently with a CFO friend of mine as she was lamenting the lack of potential for a liquidity event for her and her company. I couldn’t believe my ears or perhaps it was the excellent brunello that got me a bit riled up. According to Thomson Reuters/National Venture Capital Association, there were 211 exits of venture backed companies in the U.S. via acquisition in the 1st half of 2010. This is on pace to be the largest number in recent memory (2008 and 2009 had 335 and 262 respectively for the entire year). The market has finally opened up; the time to sell has not been this good in a decade.
QUESTION:
I’m curious, what are typical legal fee arrangements for a bootstrapped California startup like mine.
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
I hear a lot about intellectual property, but how do I know if my startup has real intellectual property? What constitutes intellectual property and how would I present this to a potential investor?
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
I really like my lawyer. She is excellent, and the law firm is well respected. That said, I feel like my lawyer is overcharging me for the work done? How do I best handle this? I don’t want to ruin our relationship.
ANSWER:
Mark Greenough
I can’t tell you how many pitch sessions I have sat through where the entrepreneurs show some incredible “hockey stick” revenue increase in years 3-5 in their business plan. Nobody in the room believes the numbers including the entrepreneurs. So why do it?
John Hollier
Advisor
John Hollier is the Chief Collaborator at Collaborative Xceleration. After 30 years of working, both as an employee and a consultant, with large corporations, John decided to bring his experience and expertise to small businesses.
QUESTION:
I’m so busy just trying to get my startup off the ground that I’m wondering if it’s really worth the time and effort to set up a Board of Advisors. That’s a huge investment in time that I have to make, plus legal fees. Any guidance would be appreciated.
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
My VC dominated board of directors is trying to pressure me to step down from the post of CEO, but I own the majority of shares still. Any advice on how to handle this situation?
ANSWER:
Dana Shultz
Advisor
Dana Shultz is a business-savvy attorney with in-depth knowledge of law, business, technology, and the needs of startup and early-stage companies.
