How to Structure and Fund Your Startup - Tech on Tap ft. Ara Babaian
Whether you're just getting your startup off the ground or preparing for your next stage of growth, understanding your funding options can shape the trajectory of your business.
Join us for an engaging conversation with Ara Babaian, Founding Partner of Encore Law Group PC, for a discussion of the startup funding landscape, from friends and family rounds and SAFE instruments to equity financings, SBA loans, and grants.
Funding is not just about raising capital. Each option affects ownership, control, and future flexibility. Ara will walk through how different funding paths align with different types of businesses, and how your choice of entity can expand or limit your options.
This session is designed to give founders a clear framework for evaluating funding strategies and choosing an approach that fits their goals.
Ara Babaian is a business attorney and advisor with over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and company formation. He is the founding partner of Encore Law Group PC, where he advises startups, founders, and companies on structuring, fundraising, and strategic transactions.
In addition to his legal practice, Ara is an investor and business owner. He operates multiple ventures in Joshua Tree, California, including real estate and hospitality projects, and a retail and marketplace business called Joshua Tree Trading Post. This experience informs his practical approach to helping founders raise capital and build their businesses.
Before founding Encore Law Group, Ara was a partner at Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP and an associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, representing public companies. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School and his B.A. from UC Berkeley, and has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer each year since 2015.
Tech on Tap is a free networking night for the tech and innovation community hosted by the City of Glendale's Economic Development Division. Open to all who are curious about tech, this monthly series brings together interesting people to connect, learn, and grow.
________________________________
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, assisted listening devices are available. Anyone requiring a device should contact the City of Glendale Economic Development Division [818-548-2005] 72 hours (three business days) prior to the event to allow time for accommodation. We cannot guarantee accommodation of same-day requests.