Entrepreneurship, Venture Financing and the Law

Catalog description

This course examines areas of the law that impact the entrepreneur in the process of starting, growing, operating and financing a business. Learners will evaluate legal entity choices (e.g., partnership, corporation, or LLC), capital structure (debt and equity), tax elections (e.g., S corporation), and protections among co-owners. The course examines core areas of law affecting entrepreneurs, including contracts, employment, torts, and intellectual property (e.g., copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret law), along with practical tools for protecting ventures such as non-disclosure, invention assignment, and confidentiality agreements. Learners will explore early-stage and growth financing, including how to engage investors and understand key concepts such as preferred equity, investor rights, and term sheet provisions. Additional topics include legal and regulatory compliance (including securities filings), as well as the legal dimensions of scaling and exit, including mergers and acquisitions and taking a company public (IPO). The course emphasizes practical legal literacy and the ability to apply legal concepts in entrepreneurial decision-making.