In this episode of The Founder's Hour, hosts Laura Cicirelli and Eric Weiner are joined by Julie Levinson Werner, partner and Vice Chair of Lowenstein's Employment practice, to discuss the legal and practical considerations founders face as they begin building a workforce. The conversation covers employee and independent contractor classification, offer letters and employment agreements, intellectual property assignments, wage-and-hour requirements, restrictive covenants, workplace policies, and considerations when terminating employees. They also discuss how putting the right employment practices in place early can help companies prepare for future financings, diligence, and growth.

Speakers:

Laura Cicirelli, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Eric Weiner, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Julie Levinson Werner, Partner; Vice Chair, Employment

In this episode of The Founder's Hour Lowenstein partners Laura Cicirelli and Eric Weiner discuss a company's first equity financing and what founders should understand before entering a priced preferred stock round. The conversation explores how priced rounds differ from SAFEs and convertible notes, including more robust documentation, longer timelines, investor diligence, economics, liquidation preferences, governance rights, major investor rights, founder re-vesting, transfer restrictions, and drag-along provisions. The episode also highlights why the first equity financing can set the foundation for future rounds and why founders should work with counsel to understand the balance of power they are creating with investors going forward.

Speakers:

Laura Cicirelli, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Eric Weiner, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

In this episode of The Founder's Hour, Lowenstein partners Laura Cicirelli and Eric Weiner build on prior conversations about company formation, SAFEs and convertible notes, and venture debt to examine how valuation and cap table math affect founders over time. The discussion walks through the impact of equity incentive pools, convertible securities, pre-money and post-money valuation, and priced equity rounds, highlighting how each financing decision can change founder ownership and dilution. Cicirelli and Weiner also explain why founders should look beyond the headline valuation in a term sheet and understand how today's cap table decisions may shape future fundraising, incentives, and long-term growth.

Speakers:

Laura Cicirelli, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Eric Weiner, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital