A Founder’s Handbook to SEIS and EIS: Rules and Benefits (Part 1/2)
As a founder of a UK company, understanding the core tax reliefs for potential investors is crucial when fundraising. Two of the most beneficial schemes available in the UK are the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). These schemes provide significant tax reliefs to investors, making your UK company a more attractive and highly incentivised investment opportunity. In this two-part guide, we will delve into the rules and practical points for founders regarding SEIS and EIS to help ensure you understand them and are in a position to benefit from them.
Wednesday 10 July 2024
Planning a VC Round? Here’s 9 Things Every Founder Should Know
Raising a venture capital (VC) round is a big step for any startup. It means investors believe your company is “venture-backable” (i.e. has the potential to grow rapidly and deliver a high return on their investment) and want to help it grow. But this also means dealing with some complex legal agreements and positions. Here’s a simple guide to help founders understand what’s involved.
Sunday 21 July 2024
Raising An Angel Round: Legal Must-Knows for Early Stage Founders
Raising capital is a pivotal step for many startups in their early stages seeking to accelerate growth using external capital, rather than grow organically. For many founders, approaching a funding round can feel daunting, even before deciding on strategy between raising from angel investors or venture capital (VC). Everyone begins from a standing start, and if you don’t have an existing investor network, it is a challenge!
Wednesday 10 July 2024
Understanding Share Dilution: A Guide for Startup Founders During Fundraising
Navigating the complexities of share dilution is crucial for startup founders, especially tech startup founders during startup fundraising, and/or when setting up employee share schemes like EMI Schemes (Enterprise Management Incentive). Share dilution occurs when a company issues new shares to raise funds or distribute to employees, which decreases the ownership percentage of existing shareholders. Managing this dilution effectively is key to retaining value and control in your company from pre-seed to series A and beyond.
Wednesday 10 July 2024
5 Investment Legal Terms Every Founder Should Know
Stepping into the world of startup funding can be as tricky as it is exciting. To help you navigate it, here we will explain the five key legal terms every founder should know. Whether you're just starting out or gearing up for a big funding round, understanding these terms will help you secure the best deals and protect your startup's future. Let's ensure you're well-prepared for your next investor meeting!
Sunday 21 July 2024
The Firing and Re-Hiring of OpenAI’s Founder: How Can It Happen and How Can Founders Be Protected?
The recent announcement of Sam Altman’s firing as CEO of OpenAI, and his subsequent re-hiring after his team took a stand, raises several questions about the vulnerabilities founders may encounter in their own companies and the importance of a solid company culture. Even though this happened in the US where rules are different, we’ll explore here the same situation under UK law, to see how founders can protect themselves from unexpected exits (the kinds they don’t want), and the terms they can include in their legal documents to safeguard their positions.
Sunday 21 July 2024
Angel or VC Investments - which is better for me?
When it comes to funding your startup, you’re faced with an important decision: Should you seek angel investment or Venture Capital (VC) funding? Both are viable options, but each comes with its pros and cons. In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between angel and VC investments to help you make the right choice for you.
Sunday 21 July 2024
How to set up an EMI Scheme for startups - why, what and how
Accelerate Law helps startups implement EMI Schemes. Here’s some useful info on them to get you started:What is an EMI Scheme and its goal?
Sunday 21 July 2024