Blog

Last month, we introduced some basic ideas about intellectual property and intellectual property law as it relates to startups. In that post, we focused on ways that the law could protect ideas that people or companies were trying to...

If you’re starting a business with another person or a group of people, you’ll be sharing ideas, divvying up equity, and investing money together.  For startups, resolving questions of equity, ownership and control is critical to the company’s growth...

Starting a business can be an exciting and potentially lucrative endeavor, and many entrepreneurs are understandably excited to get started. Developing a concept into a monetized reality requires planning and execution, and skipping steps in this process can cost...

When starting a business, one of the most important decisions an entrepreneur can make is which type of business to form. The most common types of entity are sole proprietorships, LLCs, LLPs (Learn about the difference between LLCs and...

So, where is my Crowdfunding? As most entrepreneurs know all too well, one of the most difficult challenges to overcome for a small startup is raising capital to get an idea off of the ground. Last year, amidst much...

Spotlight on Microfinance (Another Form of Crowdfunding?) Microfinance, a cousin of crowdfunding, is an economic model in which small-scale lenders extend credit to borrowers that usually are unable to access credit.  Generally, microfinance services target poor populations in developing...

Claire Kalia is co-hosting a Santa Clara County Bar Association round table discussion on January 30 from 6-8pm on the business and ethics of social media for lawyers. MCLE credit is available. Seminar Location: SCCBA Seminar & Conference Center...

Much ink has been spilled about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but now that it is going into effect business owners are wondering what it really means for them.   Here is the ACA in a nutshell: –       if you...

The San Francisco Bay Area is not all about tech.  The Silicon Valley ‘s innovative spirit is reflected in a thriving local foodie culture which rewards risk-taking and creativity.  However, if you are thinking of opening an eatery, whether in...

If you have spent any time around bootstrapping startups, you will likely have heard talk about convertible notes (also called bridge financings).  But what exactly are convertible notes and why do startups like them so much? A convertible note...