Emerging Businesses & Venture Capital

Dickinson Wright helps founders, investors, and growing companies navigate every stage of the business lifecycle—from formation and financing to day-to-day operations and exit. We combine practical legal counsel with business insight to help companies grow, scale, and adapt as opportunities evolve.

Starting Your Company

Launching a business begins with a strong legal foundation. We help entrepreneurs structure their companies for long-term success through services including:

• Pre-formation planning, entity selection, and company formation
• Founder equity, vesting structures, and capitalization table planning
• Corporate governance and ownership structuring
• Equity compensation, including ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, and profit interests
• Hiring, retention, and early-stage compensation planning
• Joint ventures, strategic alliances, and outsourcing arrangements

Raising Capital & Financing

We advise companies throughout every stage of fundraising, from initial seed capital through later-stage financing. Our experience includes:

• Friends and family, angel, pre-seed, seed, and preferred equity financings
• SAFEs, convertible notes, venture debt, and bridge financings
• Crowdfunding and alternative financing structures
• Accelerator, incubator, and venture studio arrangements
• Mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, divestitures, and venture-backed exits

Venture Capital & Investor Support

We represent venture capital funds, corporate venture groups, institutional investors, and family offices throughout the investment lifecycle. Our team helps clients evaluate transactions, understand market terms, and protect long-term value by:

• Reviewing and negotiating financing documents
• Protecting economic, governance, and information rights
• Planning for future financing rounds and exit opportunities
• Identifying provisions affecting dilution, control, and portfolio value

Commercial Agreements & Partnerships

Strong commercial agreements support long-term business growth. We draft and negotiate contracts that help clients commercialize products, expand partnerships, and manage risk, including:

• SaaS, software licensing, and technology agreements
• Product development and strategic partnership agreements
• AI and large language model development, training, and licensing agreements
• Terms of service, privacy policies, and data processing agreements
• Manufacturing, distribution, and service agreements

Business Support & Resources

Beyond legal counsel, we connect clients with valuable business resources and multidisciplinary support throughout Dickinson Wright. Our network and experience include:

• Introductions to venture capital firms, angel investors, corporate venture groups, and family offices
• Pitch deck development and investor presentation preparation
• Integrated guidance from our Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Tax, Immigration, Litigation, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, Corporate Governance, Securities, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, and Technology Transactions practice groups