Startup Legal Survival Guide: What Every Founder Needs to Know Before Raising a Dime

​About the Session:

​Before you pitch an investor, hire your first employee, or ship your MVP, your startup needs to be legally sound. This fast-paced, founder-friendly workshop delivers the essential legal foundations that make or break early-stage startups — in plain English.

We’ll cover how to split equity with co-founders, why vesting and 83(b) elections are non-negotiable, what a SAFE really means, and how to protect your IP from day one. Attendees will walk away with a clear checklist of what to do (and what to avoid), demystifying the legal traps that derail even the best ideas. Whether you're still sketching your idea on a napkin or gearing up for your first fundraise, this session will help you start smart — and stay investor-ready.

​About the Host:

​Tabetha Hinman is the founder of Hinman Legal PC, a boutique firm dedicated to helping early-stage and growth-stage startups navigate legal complexity with clarity and confidence. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as both a startup attorney and an entrepreneur, Tabetha offers a rare blend of legal expertise and operational insight. She has served as General Counsel to multiple VC-backed companies and has co-founded and led startups herself—giving her a deep appreciation for the realities founders face every day.