Blog

Fundraising, decoded.

Insights on seed-stage fundraising, VC meetings, and startup evaluation.

Filtered by: investor due diligence ×
Legal Due Diligence Checklist for Startups (2026)
David Rakusan ·

Legal Due Diligence Checklist for Startups (2026)

Legal due diligence is where investors confirm your startup actually owns its equity, its IP, and its contracts. Most founders meet it as a surprise when the term sheet is already signed and a missing contractor assignment stalls the round. This checklist walks through all nine workstreams counsel reviews, from Delaware incorporation and the 83(b) 30-day clock to 409A valuations and the IP assignments that kill the most deals, plus a pre-fundraise readiness routine and a quick-reference table.
legal due diligence startup legal checklist IP assignment 83(b) election 409A valuation cap table Delaware C corp fundraising seed round CIIA contractor agreements investor due diligence
Due Diligence Checklist for Seed Stage Startups: The 2026 Standard
David Rakusan ·

Due Diligence Checklist for Seed Stage Startups: The 2026 Standard

The complete due diligence checklist a seed stage founder needs in 2026. Written by a founder with 7 years on the investor side, this guide breaks the seed checklist into seven proof areas, shows which items get reviewed pre-term-sheet versus post, and identifies the red flags that kill deals in the first hour of review. Backed by data from Carta, Cooley, DocSend, Kruze, and Y Combinator.
due diligence checklist seed stage fundraising startup data room VC due diligence seed round preparation fundraising checklist investor due diligence startup legal documents cap table SAFE notes founder guide seed stage proof
How to Prepare for a VC Meeting: The Best Preparation Is Proof
David Rakusan ·

How to Prepare for a VC Meeting: The Best Preparation Is Proof

Most VC meeting prep advice focuses on pitch rehearsal and slide design. But investors spend just 2 minutes reviewing a deck, and the average founder needs 38 meetings to close a seed round. The real differentiator is proof: verified traction, structured answers to diligence questions, and a shareable document that works across every fund. This guide breaks down what investors actually test for and how to build proof that compounds.
VC meeting preparation seed round fundraising pitch meeting tips investor due diligence startup fundraising guide how to impress investors VC first meeting proof of traction founder fundraising investor readiness seed stage pitch venture capital questions