In this session we will explore (i) some of the early decisions related to formation of the start-up entity, including timing, documents, and choice of entity and (ii) strategies for allocation of founders’ stock and composition of the board of directors.

This session will include a discussion of how to organize the business plan as a critical planning tool and provide practical guidance for preparing an executive summary, including financial projections and budgets. The presenter will also discuss strategies for approaching the investment community and understanding alternative sources of funding

The presenters will discuss the importance of developing an IP strategy that fits the business, and the relationship between IP protection and the commercialization objectives of your business.

This session will examine the methods commonly used to determine a company’s valuation and address how investors utilize them to value early- stage companies and technology projects. The speaker will help you understand investor expectations, including board seats, liquidity, registration rights, and non-compete agreements, and discuss key provisions to include in term sheets and negotiation strategies for achieving the best-case investment scenario.