Venture Best Open-Sources Its StartupProgram for Founders with StartupProgram Document Generator

“Maybe we just need more lawyers who spend their time talking to clients.” Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

We agree. Today, Venture Best, part of Michael Best, opens its StartupProgram to founders everywhere with a document automation platform, StartupProgram Document Generator. For years, our attorneys used this curated suite of incorporation and formation documents internally for our startup clients. Now we are handing founders the keys: access the documents for free and use them as you see fit.

The StartupProgram Document Generator makes founders venture-ready on day one. By completing a questionnaire, founders can set up their own Delaware C corporation, which is the structure most venture capital investors prefer because most standard legal forms, including the industry-standard NVCA Model Documents, follow Delaware law. We structure every document so investors see a clean, fundable company from formation, and the program grows with you, accommodating large founding teams, multiple stock classes with different voting rights, and future form documents.

There has never been a better time to start a company. Technology has put business formation within reach of anyone with an idea, freeing our attorneys to focus where they add the most value: advising founders directly rather than assembling templates.

The StartupProgram Document Generator gives founders the documents they need to form a corporation, issue founder stock, and adopt a stock incentive plan for future hires. The kit groups the documents into logical batches:

1. Incorporation: Certificate of Incorporation and Statement of Incorporator
2. Organization: Bylaws plus the initial board and stockholder consents
3. Founder Documents: Founder offer letters, confidentiality and invention assignment agreements (CIAAs), stock purchase agreements, and 83(b) elections
4. Stock Incentive Plan: The plan, adoption consents, a plan memo, Q&As, and option and restricted stock agreements
5. Fundraising: Y Combinator SAFEs, convertible note templates, and accredited investor questionnaires
6. IP and Hiring: NDAs, employee offer letters, CIAAs, advisor agreements, and contractor agreements

You will also receive a legal and business blueprint that summarizes the foundation of your startup, and a step-by-step checklist that guides founders from incorporation through ongoing compliance.

Free documents still benefit from good counsel. Our attorneys can:

• Advise on strategy and explain the terms
• Walk you through the documents in our standard process
• Advise on implementation and deal mechanics
• Handle filings, foreign qualifications, tax elections, and related matters

Smart early choices help founders avoid costly mistakes later. Please note that you need to sign an engagement letter with our firm to receive these services.

The documents are open source, so use them as you see fit. To consult a Venture Best attorney on strategy, legal guidance, or deal mechanics, please send us a note here and we will reach out for a complementary call to discuss your needs and engagement, or contact Dan Offner at dan.offner@michaelbest.com.

Our new Venture Best Connect platform links startup clients with more than 280 venture capital investors and other capital allocators. If you are fundraising now (or soon) and looking for introductions, reach out to a Venture Best attorney and we can talk next steps.

The future belongs to founders who move fast and build smart. Check out the suite of open-source documents here to get started.