Founders Agreement: Define the Deal Before the Company Starts

Cofounders split equity on a napkin. Months later, one wants out but claims they own more. Another contributed code before incorporation, whose IP is it? The company raises a round and the first investor asks: who actually owns what?

What you get:

• Equity allocation, vesting schedules, and acceleration terms

• IP assignment and prior IP disclosure

• Roles, decision-making authority, and deadlock resolution

• Departure terms: voluntary, for-cause, without-cause repurchase mechanics