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inspiration
Guides
Insights
Types of Investors in Startups: Choosing the Right Financial Partners
Securing funding is one of the most important steps in building a startup. But capital is only part of the equation - different investor types bring distinct benefits such as mentorship, networks, and operational expertise. Understanding the funding landscape helps founders target the right partners at the right time.
Understanding the Funding Journey: A Guide to Startup Capital Rounds
We want to provide clarity on the progression of funding stages that successful startups typically navigate. While funding round terminology can vary across different entrepreneurial ecosystems, understanding the general framework will help you properly position your company for each capital-raising milestone.
Navigating Startup Funding: The Venture Capital Question
We want to share important considerations regarding funding options for emerging businesses, particularly focusing on venture capital as a potential path. Despite its prominent coverage in business media, venture capital may not be suitable for every entrepreneurial venture.
Unvested Shares Demystified: Understanding Equity Compensation in Startups
When a company grants stock, it doesn’t mean employees immediately own it outright. Instead, the equity is tied to a vesting schedule - a structured process that gradually transfers ownership over time. Unvested shares are those that an employee has been granted but are still subject to the company’s right to repurchase if the employee leaves early.
FAQs
Open allHow are you different from big law firms?
We are a tight team and like it that way. We have work/life balance ourselves. Names, faces, families, souls. No corporate bureaucracy. Big law firms employ humans too, but they are kind of like a top-down scheme that focuses on demanding work hours from lower-level associates who are incentivized to increase billable hours and not incentivized to increase their or their clients’ success and happiness.
We developed our model so that we can select powerful businesses to align with as our clients and provide true partnership and counsel - our clients’ success and happiness are directly aligned with our success and happiness.
What law firm will provide my legal services?
VirtualCounsel, PC (i.e., @VirtualCounsel) is a virtual law firm, headquartered in San Diego, CA.
@VirtualCounsel™️ is not a law firm. Any legal services will be performed by the law firm VirtualCounsel, PC, a California professional law corporation.
What is @VirtualCounsel?
VirtualCounsel, PC (i.e., @VirtualCounsel) is a virtual law firm headquartered in San Diego, CA. We are progressive corporate attorneys. We are a startup ourselves, and we built our law firm to serve startups in the way that we believe a professional service provider should serve their clients.
Do I get a dedicated point of contact?
Yes. At the beginning of a relationship you will have a kick-off call with one of our talented attorneys who will operate as your primary point of contact. Even better, our technology gives our whole firm - all attorneys, legal staff, etc. - visibility into every client’s confidential portal. So you will have a team of bright minds collaborating on the important work for your business - and will always have your primary attorney point of contact running point.
What if something falls outside of the Scope of Work?
We provide representation and advice on the specific legal matters you have hired us for, which means that our work together is limited to the Representation. If a project falls outside of the Scope of Work, we will always discuss the parameters of the work and fees with you before moving forward with it.
Additionally, if your business changes substantially, we will discuss the change in Scope of Work and will agree to a revised fee arrangement. Representation on any future matters will be subject to the terms of this Agreement and any other fee arrangements we may mutually agree upon. The question of whether a matter or issue falls within the scope of this Representation will be handled with common sense, mutual agreement, mutual respect, and fairness to both parties.
What is an A la Carte project?
A la carte projects refer to individual, one-off projects with a specific scope of work. These projects can be carried out for new clients or for current subscription clients when the work falls outside the scope of their subscription. On a case by case basis, we may bill these projects on an hourly basis or as a flat fee.