The founder’s law library.
Plain-English guides from the attorneys who build Story — fundraising, equity, formation, and working with lawyers.
Founder DIY Guide
The step-by-step path through the legal work a new company actually has to do — free, and in order.
Fundraising
5 guidesSeries A, explained
What it is, when it's time, and why Preferred Stock isn't just more stock.
Series A diligence: the 3 docs VCs want
Cap table, IP ownership, revenue proof — what VCs check first.
Cap-table detox
Clean ownership math before your Series A.
Data rooms: Marie-Kondo your docs before diligence
Organize your data room before diligence to cut delays and legal fees.
SAFEs: what they are + how they convert
A founder-friendly explanation of SAFEs and conversion in an equity financing.
Equity
3 guidesStartup equity, explained
Equity instruments explained for smart founders, not lawyers.
Early exercise & founder-trap equity decisions
Why early exercise, long windows, and acceleration often hurt more than they help.
Restricted stock vs. options
Why Aegis defaults to options for employees — the key differences.
Entity Formation
4 guidesWhat a corporation is (and how to form one)
Entity formation guide for Delaware C-corps.
S corporations: the tax election your accountant forgot to explain
Understanding S-corp elections for startups.
Forming an LLC for a US startup
For angel-to-Series-A startups considering an LLC.
The Delaware flip
What a flip actually means for non-US founders raising from US investors.
Employment
1 guideIndependent contractor vs. W-2 employee
The risk-first guide for startup founders on worker classification.
Legal Strategy
3 guidesLegal process matters
Templates vs. documents vs. processes for startup founders.
Get value from lawyers without going broke
How B2B startup founders actually work with outside counsel.
Securities exemptions: Form D vs. blue sky vs. no action
Your options for exempting investment securities — a US startup guide.