Daniel Chong

When we sold the company for $100M, he walked away with barely enough for a house in California. This is one of the hardest decisions you'll have to make as a founder/CEO.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to set up your U.S. startup the right way—from choosing the right entity and meeting visa requirements, to avoiding major tax pitfalls and preparing for fundraising. Whether you're considering an H-1B, O-1A, or EB-1A visa, you'll find step-by-step guidance tailored for international founders navigating U.S. incorporation and immigration laws.

The most valuable tax break for founders is also one of the easiest to lose. If you're planning to sell your company one day, this could save you millions—if you get it right.

Raising a priced round—whether Series Seed, A, or B—is a major milestone in a startup’s journey. But it can also come with sticker shock, especially when it comes to legal fees. This guide helps founders understand market pricing, what’s reasonable, and what makes a deal more expensive.

Starting a company as a foreigner is the American dream in action—but making it a reality requires navigating legal, financial, and immigration complexities. From selecting the right business entity to securing visas and raising capital, every decision impacts your startup's success.

Choosing the right co-founder is one of the most crucial decisions for a startup’s success. These questions will help facilitate honest discussions and set the foundation for a strong working relationship.

Raising capital is a balancing act: you need enough funding to grow, but you also need to protect your ownership so you don’t find yourself squeezed out of your own company. Many founders raise money without fully understanding dilution, only to realize too late that they’ve given away too much too soon.

One of the most critical decisions a startup founder makes is how to allocate equity among employees, consultants, and advisors. Equity compensation is a powerful tool for attracting top talent, aligning incentives, and ensuring long-term commitment.

This guide will walk you through the essential elements your pitch deck must include to effectively communicate your startup’s value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential. By focusing on these key components, you’ll be better positioned to secure the funding and support needed to propel your startup forward.

This post dives into what happened to Jobs from a legal and governance perspective and offers actionable lessons to help founders avoid a similar fate.

A client recently obtained a 409A valuation to issue equity to a new co-founder. The valuation for their pre-revenue startup, which had raised less than $400k, came in much higher than the nominal value they had expected.

Learn how I saved $50k on taxes and get your free Delaware franchise tax calculator.

This guide explains why, in 99% of cases, a Delaware C-Corp is the best choice for venture-backed startups.

Issuing founder stock or options at the wrong price can lead to massive tax liabilities and IRS scrutiny. A 409A valuation helps ensure compliance, minimizes legal risks, and keeps investors confident. Learn why it matters and when you need one to safeguard your startup's future.

When it comes to raising venture funding, startups have several popular instruments at their disposal: SAFEs, convertible notes, and NVCA documents for priced equity rounds. In this post, we’ll dive deep into SAFEs.

A startup founder hired a developer without a contract. When the developer claimed IP ownership and sued, investors fled, and the startup collapsed. Learn how to protect your venture with proper consulting agreements.

Did you know that new FinCEN regulations are likely to affect your company's compliance requirements?

Below is a checklist to assist you in conducting a preliminary audit of the stock's status.

One of the critical elements of compensating early-stage employees and founders is to understand Section 83(b) of the tax code on founders’ shares (aka restricted stock)

The 83(b) election is a crucial consideration for many startup founders and employees who receive stock subject to vesting. But what about non-US taxpayers? Let's explore this complex issue.