Lunch & Learn: Understanding Early Stage Fundraising Instruments and Incentive Equity Awards
About Event
Learn more about the various types of equity and equity-like instruments available when bringing early team members and seed investors into your start-up company. This Lunch & Learn session will focus on understanding the vocabulary and key terms of common types of documents used in seed financing, including Simple Agreements for Future Equity (or SAFEs), convertible notes and preferred stock. We will also cover the various types of incentive equity awards start-ups use to help recruit and retain talent, including option awards, profits interests, stock awards and phantom equity. Gain insights into how these agreements impact governance, fundraising strategy, founder dilution and team motivation. Perfect for founders, executives, angel investors and anyone looking to navigate equity-based compensation and investment structures with confidence.
Lunch provided, registration required.
Speakers
Justyn J. Kasierski, Esq.
Managing Partner, Hutchison PLLC
Justyn advises technology and emerging growth companies at all stages of development across a range of industries, including software, ecommerce, video games and development, networking, advanced materials, clean-tech, alternative energy, medical devices, biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals. He also represents angel and venture capital funds in their fundraising and investment activities. Justyn counsels clients on day-to-day legal and business issues, and his transactional experience includes startup and formation, public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions and strategic partnerships.
Justyn joined Hutchison after practicing in the Waltham office of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, a national venture law firm. During his tenure at Gunderson Dettmer, Justyn represented a variety of private and public technology companies and also served as counsel for a number of leading venture capital funds.
Dan L. O'Korn, Esq.
Partner, Hutchison PLLC
Dan’s practice focuses on business transactions important to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including licensing and commercial transactions, FDA-related regulatory matters, asset acquisitions and divestitures, supply agreements, product development agreements and strategic alliances. Dan previously served as outside counsel to life sciences companies and in-house counsel roles for Eli Lilly and Company, AAIPharma, Inc., Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Xcellerex, Inc.
Ashley K Pittman
Partner, Hutchison PLLC
Ashley advises startup and emerging growth companies at all stages of their life cycle, from formation to exit. Ashley enjoys acting as general counsel to clients, advising founders, investors, and management teams on both day-to-day legal matters as well as financings, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic transactions. She aims to provide clients with both general business advice and a thorough understanding of the complicated law and regulations in these areas, thereby offering comprehensive strategies and best practices for companies in a variety of growth stages. Ashley also advises clients on employment practices and policies, and guides clients through a variety of HR matters, including employee onboarding, benefits, compliance, and transitions.
Sponsors & Partners
This seminar is sponsored by Hutchison PLLC, a boutique law firm that embraces the entrepreneurial spirit and steers technology and life sciences entrepreneurs to success through all stages of their company’s life. Learn more.
Questions? Contact Ally Nielander at [email protected].
Please notify IGNITE-FSU, 1729 West Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310, or email [email protected], a minimum of five (5) working days in advance if an accommodation for a disability is required.