In this article, Dragon Argent look at three key questions any founders aiming to raise venture capital must be equipped to answer.

It is obvious to say that many startups are enabled by developments or innovations in technology and this in turn results in this technology being sold as software as a service (SaaS). Due to this trend, at Dragon Argent we are drafting and negotiating more and more SaaS agreements for clients to protect their intellectual property and commercial interests.

If you are a founder or owner-operator, have you ever stopped to ask yourself what your long-term goals are and what assets drive the value of your business?

When implemented correctly, diversity & inclusion as a strategy aligns business goals whilst reducing organisational risk, improving decision making and driving growth. When done as a token gesture, it risks imbedding positive discrimination into a business.

It is unfortunate but inevitable that businesses will become involved in disputes at some point in their lifecycle. This can happen at any stage from startup through to exit. Here, Dragon Argent share our experience of how owner operators can resolve disputes as quickly and cost effectively as possible, minimising disruption to their business.

Hiring a first employee is a monumental moment for a startup. It often means that founders take a first step towards freeing up some time, getting specialist expertise into the business and building out the team that’s going to drive scale.

What do all major decisions taken within a business have in common? They are all influenced by the financial health of the company.

Many new businesses spend the first season of their existence researching and developing a concept or a prototype. If any project on which the company works is seeking to making an advance in the fields of science or technology, the costs of that project may be eligible to provide the company with extra tax relief, through its annual corporation tax return.

There are some accounting risks every startup founder and owner operator should be aware of. These risks can not only impact the ongoing viability of a business but also have a detrimental effect at major events such as investment rounds or exit processes. Robust management accounting is fundamental to the enterprise value of a company and will help mitigate accounting surprises such as those outlined below on an ongoing basis or within due diligence.

In this week’s newsletter, Dragon Argent take a look at these constitutional rules (or by-laws) which are found in the company’s articles of association, a public document that sets out the fundamental contract between the company and its shareholders. A company may also enter into a shareholders’ agreement with its shareholders, a private document that sits alongside and complements the articles. Together these documents form the rules of the club.

Employee Share Incentive Schemes for UK SMEs allows employer to provide shares to an employee free of tax, provided it meets certain conditions. Government-approved share schemes offer tax benefits to both employers and employees and can offer other advantages to businesses. Learn more.

In this blog post, Dragon Argent take a break from the typical areas of business we normally cover to focus on something even more important in the world of startups and entrepreneurs – mental health.

When forming a company and putting in place the required legal documentation that supports your company structure, it is worth thinking about the future funding needs of the business. The majority of startups will at some point seek external investment, with the first round of investment typically being referred to as seed or pre-seed funding.

As part of the forthcoming Finance Bill 2021, HMRC have announced a cap on the amount that a loss-making SME can receive in R&D tax credits to stop abuse of the scheme.

In the majority of startup journeys, pitch decks are going to feature. The stage of the business may vary, but at some point, founders will encounter the need to raise investment. This could occur early - as soon as you have a minimum viable product or, when your business is more mature and needs to take advantage of an opportunity to scale.