Team, Co-founders & Legal

What legal setup do I need beyond incorporation (IP, contracts, compliance)?

A starting point

Assign all IP to the company from every founder and contractor in writing, use clean contractor and employment agreements, and stay on top of statutory filings (annual returns, taxes, ROC/state compliance). Missing IP assignment or 83(b)/ESOP paperwork is what actually blows up due diligence later. Get the boring hygiene right early, it's cheap now and expensive to fix during a raise.

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📄 Article
Free Intermediate

How to form a Delaware corporation (C corp), Stripe guide

From stripe.com/resources by Stripe Guide

Why we picked it

A clear, vendor-agnostic explainer of why the Delaware C-corp is the default for high-growth, investor-backed startups and how the mechanics work. Useful for deciding structure before you pay for anything.

  • Delaware C-corp is the standard structure investors expect
  • Understand founder stock, vesting, and the 83(b) election before filing
  • Choose the entity that matches where your capital and customers are
Open stripe.com →
📄 Article
India Free Advanced

Co-Founder Agreements in India 2026: A Comprehensive Drafting Guide

From lawsikho.com by LawSikho Long read

Why we picked it

A detailed, clause-by-clause drafting guide with Indian legal context, including enforceability and state-wise stamp duty, that goes deeper than a generic template. Written for Indian founders specifically.

  • Enforceable under the Indian Contract Act only if properly executed and stamped
  • Must-have clauses include vesting, leaver provisions, IP assignment, and deadlock resolution
  • Stamp duty varies by state, so localize the document
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Paid Intermediate

Clerky: Startup Legal Paperwork & Delaware Incorporation

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

Why we picked it

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.

  • 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
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People also ask

When should I actually incorporate my startup? Incorporate once you have co-founders splitting equity, you're taking money (from customers or investors), or you're signing contracts and hiring, ... Beginner 3 resources → Should I incorporate as a Delaware C-corp or an Indian Pvt Ltd? If you're raising from US/global VCs or building for a US market, default to a Delaware C-corp, it's the format investors expect and understand. If... Intermediate 3 resources → 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. ... Intermediate 2 resources → How do I register a Private Limited Company in India? File the SPICe+ form on the MCA21 portal, which bundles name reservation, incorporation, PAN, TAN, and more into one integrated application, most f... Intermediate 2 resources → What is DPIIT / Startup India recognition and is it worth getting? DPIIT recognition under Startup India is a free government registration that unlocks tax benefits, self-certification on labour laws, faster IP pro... Beginner 2 resources → What is vesting and why do I need a vesting schedule? Vesting means you earn your shares over time (the standard is 4 years with a 1-year cliff) instead of owning them all on day one. It's the single m... Intermediate 3 resources →