​IB Founder-First Series #4: Startup Legal Essentials

​Founder-First is our series for early-stage founders. Last session was on mastering the art of high-stakes storytelling and pitching. This one picks up right where that left off.

​📅 Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

​It’s easy to hide behind dense legal jargon and complex contracts. It feels safe. But real investor confidence happens when you protect your equity early, structure your company properly, and lead with clean cap tables and bulletproof agreements.

​Join us for an exclusive panel designed to give startup leaders direct access to top-tier legal strategy and regulatory insights.

• ​Varun Gupta | Founder & Managing Partner, Varun Gupta Law
  Corporate, securities, and regulatory attorney with 25+ years of Wall Street and Silicon Valley experience. Former Latham & Watkins Partner and multi-time startup General Counsel who has closed over $10B in financings/M&A and helped scale two unicorns from the ground up.

• ​Mary Fuller | Dean & Academic Director, Lincoln Law School of San Jose
  Law school Dean overseeing strategic operations, legal accreditation, and regulatory compliance. Expert in institutional leadership, bar governance, and building high-impact legal education partnerships across the business and legal communities.

​In this interactive session, we break down essential startup legal strategies for early-stage founders. We’ll cover:

• ​The Equity Split: How to divide ownership fairly and set up proper vesting schedules.

• ​IP Protection: Securing your intellectual property before launching or pitching to investors.

• ​Fundraising Legalities: Navigating SAFEs, convertible notes, and term sheet essentials without expensive mistakes.

​This isn't a lecture — it's a practical, interactive conversation designed to safeguard your startup's future. Bring your legal questions, cap table drafts, and messiest incorporation ideas.

​💡 What You’ll Learn

• ​Entity Structuring: Navigating incorporation, equity allocation, and founder vesting schedules.

• ​IP Safeguards: Protecting your brand, code, and confidential ideas early.

• ​Term Sheet Strategy: Understanding SAFEs, convertible notes, and investor terms.

• ​Risk Avoidance: Preventing costly early-stage legal mistakes before raising capital.

​👥 Who Should Attend?

​Early-stage founders getting ready to incorporate, raise capital, or hire their first team members, and anyone wanting to protect their startup's assets from day one.

​🍕 Food and drinks will be provided.

​Hosted by Innovate Bay.