“If you can build credibility and trust even when they’re still on Instagram and TikTok…you’re already getting in front of them before they’ve migrated to the tech Twitter world.”

Lightspeed’s Claire Zau and Josh Machiz tell Equity host Dominic-Madori Davis all about courting the “tech curious” early, on this week’s Equity podcast.

Setting up a sound legal foundation could be what saves a startup down the line. A missing founder vesting agreement, an unclear IP agreement, or a messy cap table can derail fundraising, spark co-founder disputes, or even kill an otherwise promising company before it has a chance to scale.

In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Kristina Subbotinai, founder and CEO of Lesxy and former startup attorney at Cooley, to break down the legal fundamentals every founder needs to get right.

They get into:

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The four legal mistakes that can make a startup unfundable

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How founder vesting, IP assignment, Delaware incorporation, and 83(b) elections protect your company

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What VCs actually look for during due diligence and how to avoid common red flags

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How founders should negotiate valuation, board control, and investor rights

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Why leverage comes from building a great business—not signing better term sheets

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Subscribe to Build Mode on⁠ () Apple Podcasts⁠ () , ⁠Spotify⁠ () , or⁠ () wherever you like to listen⁠ () . And watch the full videos on⁠ () YouTube⁠ () . New episodes of ⁠Build Mode⁠ () drop every Thursday. 

Chapters:00:00 – Intro: The Legal Mistakes That Kill Startups01:37 – Why Kristina built Lexsy03:58 – The Legal Foundations Every Startup Needs08:22 – How to Find the Right Startup Lawyer10:21 – The Four Non-Negotiable Legal Decisions17:33 – What Investors Look for During Due Diligence20:04 – SAFE Notes vs. Priced Rounds22:18 – Negotiating Valuation Without Losing Control25:25 – Board Seats, Investor Rights, and Hidden Term Sheet Traps30:51 – Should Founders Use AI for Legal Advice?31:04 – How Founders Build Leverage in Fundraising35:48 – The Terms That Can Destroy Founder Wealth37:01 – The Craziest Startup Legal Story Kristina Has Ever Seen

Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.

Setting up a sound legal foundation could be what saves a startup down the line. A missing founder vesting agreement, an unclear IP agreement, or a messy cap table can derail fundraising, spark co-founder disputes, or even kill an otherwise promising company before it has a chance to scale.

In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Kristina Subbotinai, founder and CEO of Lesxy and former startup attorney at Cooley, to break down the legal fundamentals every founder needs to get right.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: The Legal Mistakes That Kill Startups
01:37 – Why Kristina built Lexsy
03:58 – The Legal Foundations Every Startup Needs
08:22 – How to Find the Right Startup Lawyer
10:21 – The Four Non-Negotiable Legal Decisions
17:33 – What Investors Look for During Due Diligence
20:04 – SAFE Notes vs. Priced Rounds
22:18 – Negotiating Valuation Without Losing Control
25:25 – Board Seats, Investor Rights, and Hidden Term Sheet Traps
30:51 – Should Founders Use AI for Legal Advice?
31:04 – How Founders Build Leverage in Fundraising
35:48 – The Terms That Can Destroy Founder Wealth
37:01 – The Craziest Startup Legal Story Kristina Has Ever Seen

Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen. Produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience development led by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.