Founder Agreement.
A founder agreement records who owns what, who does what, and what happens if a co-founder leaves: equity split, vesting with a cliff, roles and decision rights, IP assignment and exit terms. Indian founders usually hold their shares from day one, so vesting is built as a right to buy back or transfer unvested shares, and it should be mirrored in the articles to bind the company.
Typically 1–2 weeks, depending mainly on how quickly the founders agree the equity split, vesting and exit terms.
A partner — a chartered accountant or company secretary — from the first call to sign-off.
Based on your situation, and fixed in writing before any work starts.
Is this for you?
- Two or more co-founders starting a company or LLP together.
- Founding teams preparing for a first investment, where investors will ask how founder shares vest.
- Teams where a co-founder's role, time commitment or equity is changing.
What you receive at the end.
- 01Founder agreement ready for signature
- 02One-page summary of vesting and leaver terms
- 03Draft amendments to the articles of association, if needed
- 04IP assignment deed from the founders to the company
- 05Updated cap table
Founder Agreement, step by step.
Typically 1–2 weeks, depending mainly on how quickly the founders agree the equity split, vesting and exit terms.
- 1
Founder discussion
We take the founders through the open questions together: contributions, time commitment, roles, equity split and what happens on exit.
- 2
Vesting design
We set the vesting schedule and cliff, and the good leaver and bad leaver terms that decide the price at which unvested shares go back.
- 3
Agreement drafting
We draft the agreement covering equity, vesting, roles, decision-making, IP assignment, confidentiality, exit terms and dispute resolution.
- 4
Articles alignment
We align the articles of association with the transfer and buy-back mechanics so they bind the company as well as the founders.
- 5
Signing and records
We arrange execution on stamp paper of the right value for your state and update the cap table and statutory registers.
What we need from you.
Don't have everything yet? We send a short checklist after the first call and work with what you have.
- Certificate of incorporation and articles of association, or the planned structure if not yet incorporated
- Current shareholding of each founder
- Each founder's role, time commitment and capital or IP contributed
- Details of code, designs, domains or other IP created before incorporation
- Any term sheet or investor requirements on founder vesting
The fee depends on your situation. After a short call, the partner who will do the work tells you what's involved and gives you a fixed fee in writing — before any work begins.
- Government fees and statutory charges are billed at actuals.
- When you pay — upfront, in stages or on completion — is agreed in writing with the fee.
Questions about Founder Agreement.
Ready to discuss Founder Agreement?
30-minute confidential call — no proposal, no commitment. A partner will write back within one business day.