Vela Wood

This week at the TiE Women Masterclass: Founder’s Legal Toolkit, we had a really interactive session—lots of great questions, real-world scenarios, and founder-to-founder insight. I wanted to share a few of the topics we unpacked, along with resources (links in the comments) if you want to dig in further: Where and how should I incorporate, and does it really matter? Do founders really need vesting if we trust each other? What’s this QSBS thing I keep hearing about? And for anyone who likes a roadmap view, here’s a resource we use often with founders at the development stage. Big thanks to Ayesha Mayhugh and TiE Dallas for creating the space and to all the female founders who made this such an engaging conversation. These are the kinds of discussions that make the startup journey a little less overwhelming.

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Catch VW Senior Of Counsel Steven Wood at the TechConnect Texas Semiconductor Institute – CHIPS in Space track this week! 🚀 He’ll be speaking on a Space IP panel and leading a Fireside Chat on IP Monetization.

Advisors play a valuable role in supporting startups by providing strategic guidance, industry expertise, and critical connections. In exchange for their services, startups often grant non-qualified stock options (NQSOs). Below, we highlight four key vesting terms: • Vesting Duration: How long until the options are 100% vested • Cliff vs. No Cliff: Percentage of options that included a cliff • Cliff Length: Length of the initial cliff period • Vesting Frequency: How often options vest

From formation to exit, qualifying for QSBS and maintaining eligibility requires careful planning to preserve the full tax advantage available under Section 1202. VW Attorney Bobby Gojuangco covers the most common QSBS mistakes and how to steer clear of them. 👉 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gf7AwRaR

VW is proud to support the LAUNCH Accelerator at the SMU Cox - William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership! VW Managing Partner Kevin Vela and Evan Kastner, Partner at Kastner Gravelle LLP, are leading the legal track for the program, as part of its multi-faceted approach to supporting founders. They spoke to the cohort about what it takes to build a legally sound business from day one, which makes a huge difference down the line. We're excited to see what’s ahead for this incredible group of founders!

Pay-to-play rounds come in many forms, each shaping investor participation and startup protection differently. Understanding these options is key for founders and investors navigating today’s fundraising environment. In our latest blog, VW Partner Kevin Vela explains these different structures and their impacts. 👉 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gVcYeRNJ

AI is rapidly reshaping the legal landscape—bringing both significant benefits and complex challenges. In our latest blog, Radney Wood shares firsthand experiences highlighting AI missteps and their real-world consequences. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gGd9eqs3

Early-stage companies often start as S Corps for tax benefits—but converting to a C Corp is key to unlocking the QSBS exclusion under Section 1202 at exit. VW Attorney Bobby Gojuangco discusses the complexities of converting from an S Corp to a C Corp and offers strategies to help founders preserve QSBS eligibility. 👉 Check out the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gY4XHRaB

Venture financing isn’t just about valuation—it’s about structure. In this blog, VW Attorney Bobby Gojuangco breaks down the most common preference structures and explains how seniority and stacking operate across multiple rounds. 👉 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/g4HmNqQy