The Investor-Ready Playbook: Cap Tables, Data Rooms & the Mistakes That Kill Deals
Raising capital is not always the right move, and when it is, how you structure your company and your round can define your long-term outcome. Chloe Capital has teamed up with Meg Charles, Chris Klug, and Gina Lee of Basswood Counsel, who advise clients on legal, tax, and strategic matters, to guide founders through the decisions that underpin successful fundraising.
The session begins with essential legal considerations, including company structure, governance, compliance, and tax implications. Founders will gain clarity on key topics such as 83(b) elections, qualified small business stock (QSBS), change of control provisions, and the separation of economics and control, all of which directly impact ownership, incentives, and future exit scenarios.
Building on this foundation, the discussion will move into a deeper fundraising strategy. Founders will explore whether they should raise capital at all, how to determine and defend their company’s value, and how to structure a round without giving away unnecessary equity. The session will also cover what it truly means to be diligence-ready, including how to build a clean, investor-ready data room and avoid common deal-killing mistakes.
Additional insights will include how nondilutive capital fits into your broader strategy and how investors evaluate your cap table and overall readiness.
This session is designed for founders and co-founders of pre-seed through Series A startups and will include real-world examples, interactive Q&A, and practical frameworks you can apply immediately.
Who Should Attend
Best for: Seed - Series A Founders and Co-Founders
Open to: All Chloe Capital portfolio and community founders
About the Speakers |
Meg Charles, Equity Partner and Co-Founder at Basswood
Meg, a seasoned attorney and strategist, guides tech and telecom companies through legal complexities, leveraging expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to drive innovation and growth in a dynamic landscape.
Chris Klug, Equity Partner and Co-Founder at Basswood
Chris is a trusted attorney with extensive experience in taxation, corporate planning, mergers and acquisitions, and estate planning. He guides clients through complex tax matters to deliver practical solutions.
Gina Lee, Partner and Co-Founder at Basswood
Gina is your trusted guide for U.S. tax law, corporate compliance, and estate planning, providing personalized, strategic counsel to help achieve your financial and personal goals with confidence.
About Chloe Capital
Chloe Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in diverse and women-led technology companies. In addition to investing with a gender and diversity lens, Chloe Capital partners with universities, corporations and foundations like ECMC Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation to host programs that help catalyze fundraising efforts for underrepresented founders. This collaborative approach to early stage investing has resulted in millions raised. Today, more than 50,000 people around the world have joined Chloe Capital’s Movement to turn #FoundersIntoFunders. ChloeCapital.com
About Basswood Counsel
Basswood Counsel is a boutique, senior-led law firm that provides strategic legal counsel across corporate, tax, and transactional matters. Built by former Big Law attorneys, the firm focuses on delivering hands-on, business-oriented advice tailored to founders, investors, and growing companies. With an emphasis on proactive guidance, transparent pricing, and long-term partnership, Basswood supports clients at every stage, from startup formation through fundraising, expansion, and exit. basswoodcounsel.com