Getting an investor interested in putting cash into your company is one thing; being prepared before you find the investor, making sure your business is in order, negotiating the alignment of interests among all interested parties—the founders, investors, and the company—and closing the deal, and then getting to work on executing the business plan, is another.

Depending on your company’s current or proposed business, and its development stage, there are a range of matters which can be done to position the company to be ready when a serious expression of interest by an investor is received. Timing is vital, and no one should lose an opportunity to receive that hard-sought investment by finding out at the last-minute that gaps exist in ownership of key assets, or that assembling material for a thorough due diligence review will take longer than is reasonable.

We work with clients to get key foundation building blocks in place. We’ll stress test your Business Plan- if you aren’t ready for the tough questions, better that you find out from us sooner rather than from a potential investor later.

Why is a family and friends investment round so important? What’s the difference between a product and a platform and why is that so key when developing a Business Plan?

Tracking the pathways to verify ownership of intangible assets may involve some legal sleuthing and we work with our clients to help identify, and try to close, gaps in the chain of title. Everyone is using open source software, but some open source is viral, making your proprietary software open source. Open source licenses run the gamut from being complex to folksy, and understanding what you can or cannot do with open source software is vital before deciding to use it.

We have represented established companies and start-ups in negotiating financing deals, especially in the technology field. We have extensive experience in due diligence and assessing risk, working on appropriate deal structures, and negotiating equity and debt investments.

As a trusted advisor, we’ll help put your deal together, from the initial Confidentiality Agreement, to negotiating the term sheet, commitment letter, and Shareholders Agreement, through to completing the purchase of shares.

Sometimes you only get one shot. Make it count.