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LEGAL

Start Smart

The Legal Guide Every Startup Founder Needs

Start Smart is your essential legal guidebook for building a successful startup from the ground up. It breaks down complex legal topics—like fundraising, hiring, equity, IP, and governance—into clear, actionable insights that help founders avoid costly mistakes. Whether you're launching your first company or scaling your next venture, this guide ensures you make informed decisions with confidence.

This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. MiNDPOP is not a law firm, and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of this content. For legal advice tailored to your specific situation, please consult xxx.

Provided courtesy of Tabetha Hinman, Hinman Legal

GUIDE

Split It

Startup Equity Basics

Learn how to divide and protect startup ownership fairly and legally. Covers equity splits, vesting schedules, 83(b) elections, option pools, and dilution. Ideal for founding teams setting up long-term incentives and avoiding costly equity mistakes.

Fund It

Raising Capital

Master early-stage fundraising tools like SAFEs and convertible notes, and understand terms like valuation caps, liquidation preferences, and pro rata rights. Learn how to navigate funding rounds, avoid down-round pitfalls, and negotiate investor terms wisely.

Protect It

IP, Trademarks, and Confidentiality

Safeguard your brand, code, content, and confidential information. Learn how to register IP, use NDAs effectively, assign ownership correctly (especially with contractors), and manage open-source or AI-generated content risks.

Run It

Governance & Compliance

Operational guidance for maintaining corporate compliance and trust with investors. Covers board governance, contract management, taxes, data privacy, and whether you really need a founder’s agreement. Ensures your back office is as strong as your product vision.

Start It

Incorporation & Structure

Get your legal foundation right from the start. This module explains the best entity types, why Delaware C-Corp is preferred, key filings like EIN and Certificate of Incorporation, and post-incorporation tasks. It ensures your startup is built to raise capital and operate legally from day one.

Hire Right

Employment & Advisory Contracts

Covers everything from employee vs contractor classification to intern legality, onboarding, international hires, and compensation strategy. Includes templates and checklists for employment contracts, equity offers, and advisor agreements — so you scale your team without legal missteps.

Own It

Equity & Ownership Deep Dive

A tactical module for founders who want to understand dilution modeling, cap table structure, stock vs options, vesting cliffs, and repurchase rights. Helps you retain control and build a fair equity strategy as you grow and raise more capital.

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LEGAL
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Tabetha Hinman

Fractional General Counsel

Tabetha Hinman is the founder of Hinman Legal LLP, a boutique firm that supports early- and growth-stage startups with practical legal guidance. With over 20 years of experience as both a startup attorney and entrepreneur, she offers a unique mix of legal expertise and operational know-how. Tabetha has served as General Counsel to VC-backed companies and co-founded startups herself, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges founders face. Her firm works with founders who want more than templates—they want a trusted legal partner.

Fractional Executives

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