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Co-founders, team & legal

How do I incorporate a Delaware C-corp as a non-US or first-time founder?

Use Stripe Atlas or Clerky, they handle the Delaware filing, EIN, founder stock, and templates for a flat fee, and you don't need to be in the US. Atlas is faster and bundles credits; Clerky is the attorney favourite for clean, fundable paperwork. Whichever you pick, file your 83(b) election within 30 days of receiving stock or you'll regret it at tax time.

Go deeper

2 resources, 2 link-checked.

🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked Paid Intermediate

The most popular guided path to a Delaware C-corp for global and first-time founders, with Cooley-drafted templates, EIN, founder stock, and 83(b) handling in one flow. It removes almost all the guesswork.

Stripe Atlas: Incorporate your startup (Delaware C-corp)

From stripe.com/atlas by Stripe Guided incorporation service

  • Sets up a Delaware C-corp, EIN, founder stock, and 83(b) filing for a flat fee
  • You don't need to be in the US, and can add up to four co-founders
  • File your 83(b) election within 30 days of receiving stock
Open stripe.com →
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked Paid Intermediate

The attorney-favourite platform for clean, fundable startup paperwork, run by startup lawyers obsessed with avoiding due-diligence problems. Its free founder handbooks are excellent even if you incorporate elsewhere.

Clerky: Startup Legal Paperwork & Delaware Incorporation

From clerky.com by Clerky Legal paperwork platform + founder handbooks

  • Delaware C-corp incorporation, founder stock with vesting, SAFEs, and hiring docs in one place
  • Built to produce paperwork that survives investor due diligence
  • Free legal-concepts handbooks explain the 'why' behind each document
Open clerky.com →

Terms in this answer

Delaware C-Corp 83(b) Election

People also ask

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Also in D2C

The same ground, over in Get legal & compliant, our D2C track.

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Also in How Founders Use AI

How founders actually use AI for this, over in Legal & Contracts.

Why review contracts with AI before paying a lawyer? 19 → How do founders handle NDAs, ESOPs, term sheets, and compliance questions with AI? 19 →

Also in GTM

The same ground, over in Build the team, our GTM track.

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