Venture Mechanics Bellevue

​Each quarter, Venture Mechanics offers a rotating series of Founder Workshops on specific topics that every startup team needs to master. These are typically 3-4 hour evening sessions given by the best of our mentors. While the workshops are intended to be taken sequentially they can be taken out of order.
​Companies in the Venture Mechanics incubator are entitled to an unlimited free buffet of these workshops during their term. The workshops are also open to startups that aren't in the incubator, at the regular tuition price. Dinner is included, and parking is always free.
​More About This Workshop:

## ​Workshop Description:

​Navigating the complexities of equity distribution is crucial for any startup aiming for sustainable growth and investment success. This intensive workshop on Cap Table Modeling for Startups offers a deep dive into the principles and practical applications of managing your startup’s capitalization table. Understanding how to model and maintain a cap table is vital for founders to ensure fair equity distribution, attract investors, and make informed strategic decisions.
​Join us to learn from seasoned venture capitalists and financial experts who will guide you through the intricacies of cap table dynamics, investor relations, and equity management. This workshop combines interactive lectures, real-world case studies, and hands-on modeling exercises to ensure participants gain comprehensive and actionable insights.
​Workshop Objectives:

• ​Understand the fundamentals of cap tables and their importance in startup finance.
• ​Learn how to create and manage a cap table that reflects your startup’s equity structure accurately.
• ​Explore the impact of different funding rounds on your cap table.
• ​Gain insights into dilution, stock options, and convertible notes.
• ​Develop strategies to maintain a balanced cap table while negotiating with investors.
• ​Utilize cap table modeling tools and software effectively.

​Key Topics:

1. ​Introduction to Cap Tables

• ​Definition and significance of a cap table.
• ​Key components: founder shares, investor shares, options, and convertible securities.

2. ​Creating a Cap Table

• ​Step-by-step guide to building an initial cap table.
• ​Common mistakes to avoid in early-stage cap table creation.

3. ​Funding Rounds and Equity Dilution

• ​Understanding pre-money and post-money valuations.
• ​Impact of seed, series A, and subsequent funding rounds on the cap table.
• ​Dilution management and strategies for founders.

4. ​Stock Options and Convertible Notes

• ​Structuring employee stock option plans (ESOPs).
• ​Convertible notes and SAFEs: how they convert and affect your cap table.

5. ​Cap Table Management Tools

• ​Overview of popular cap table management software.
• ​Hands-on exercises using real-world tools to manage and update cap tables.

6. ​Investor Relations and Negotiations

• ​Best practices for communicating with investors about equity.
• ​Strategies for negotiating favorable terms while protecting founder equity.

## Instructors:

Each quarter, Venture Mechanics offers a rotating series of Founder Workshops on specific topics that every startup team needs to master. These are typically 3-4 hour evening sessions given by the best of our mentors. While the workshops are intended to be taken sequentially they can be taken out of order.
​Companies in the Venture Mechanics incubator are entitled to an unlimited free buffet of these workshops during their term. The workshops are also open to startups that aren't in the incubator, at the regular tuition price. Dinner is included, and parking is always free.
​More About This Workshop:

## ​*"Pitch Clinic for Startup Fundraising"*

​Learn to build pitch decks that keep investors engaged. With investors, first impressions are important. When you show investors your pitch, whether by email or live, you need to be clear, concise and compelling. This pitch workshop at Venture Mechanics Incubator/Accelerator will provide you with the necessary tools to create a winning pitch deck.
​Learn how to:

• ​Think like an investor
• ​Prepare a pitch that is sharp, to the point and powerful
• ​Save time in developing the narrative and the deck
• ​Avoid ‘Powerpoint Poisoning’

​Don't miss out on this chance to elevate your pitching skills! Discover how to craft a compelling story that captivates investors. Find out why having more than one deck is crucial and what elements to include in a teaser deck.
​Join us for an evening workshop with Q&A, practice sessions, and dinner included. You don’t need a pitch deck ready to benefit - this workshop will kickstart your progress.
​Bonus:

• ​Dana will provide feedback on each participant's deck after you've had time to create it.

Each quarter, Venture Mechanics offers a rotating series of Founder Workshops on specific topics that every startup team needs to master. These are typically 3-4 hour evening sessions given by the best of our mentors. While the workshops are intended to be taken sequentially they can be taken out of order.

​Companies in the Venture Mechanics incubator are entitled to an unlimited free buffet of these workshops during their term. The workshops are also open to startups that aren't in the incubator, at the regular tuition price. Dinner is included, and parking is always free.

​More About This Workshop:
"Everything Legal" is a high-density workshop that introduces all the contracts every startup will need to be familiar with, licensing agreements, patent and trademark protection (building your “IP moat”), common debt and equity funding structures, stock options, Sarbanes Oxley compliance in fundraising, and more.

## ​*"Everything Legal"*

​This workshop takes a deep dive into two vital aspects of protecting the value of the business you’re creating. Part I covers the corporate structure, stock distribution, and about 15-20 legal contracts that startups usually need to develop by the time they’re selling stock, hiring employees and generating revenue. Part II covers your trademarks, patents and other forms of intellectual property.
​Part I: Some of the most daunting tasks in creating a new startup are things like figuring out the “cap table,” equitably dividing equity between co-founders, selecting the ideal legal entity type (e.g. C-Corp vs LLC), and starting out with rigorous corporate hygiene from the get go, so it doesn’t become an obstacle to closing a funding round later. You’ll learn about all the legal documents that you’ll need to create to support your business and protect its value, spanning from employee agreements to user licensing agreements. You'll also learn about the things that every CEO should know about Sarbanes Oxley rules before speaking in front of investors.
​Part II: You’ll learn from three highly experienced attorneys how to build a fortress around your IP. Included will be “brand protection” - everything from trademarks to domain names to trade secrets. Next up, how to structure licensing agreements - especially for software companies that will rely on these contracts for the majority of their revenue. Lastly, we’ll dive into patents, including the rapidly changing landscape of AI and machine learning patentability.
​Learn from a veteran serial entrepreneur, veteran startup lawyer, an expert intellectual property strategist, and a highly experienced patent attorney on the various ways of protecting and enhancing the value of your enterprise, from inception to exit. You will walk away from this workshop with a checklist of legal documents you’ll need to create and filings you’ll need to make in order to comply with the law, optimize your investors’ and founders’ pre-tax and after-tax returns, protect your intellectual property assets, and minimize your overall business risks.

## ​Our Instructors: