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From formation and seed financing to growth rounds, strategic transactions, and exit, we help you raise capital, scale intelligently, and position your company for what comes next.
Our Emerging Companies & Venture Capital team advises technology, life sciences, medical technology, AI, and other growth-stage businesses at every phase of development. We help clients raise capital, structure governance, and position their businesses for sustainable growth.
That experience extends to complex later-stage financings, public offerings, cross-border transactions, and strategic exits, supported by integrated securities and capital markets capabilities within the firm. Because we regularly represent venture funds, angel investors, private equity sponsors, and public company boards, founders gain practical insight into how investors evaluate risk, structure capital, and prepare for liquidity.
As part of a full-service business law firm, our clients also have seamless access to experienced attorneys in intellectual property, labor and employment, tax, litigation, international transactions, bankruptcy and creditor rights, and other related disciplines. Integrated collaboration across practices ensures coordinated advice on intellectual property strategy, workforce planning, regulatory compliance, disputes, and cross-border expansion without leaving the firm.
We are deeply embedded in the innovation economies of Silicon Valley, San Diego, Orange County, and Scottsdale. Through relationships with incubators, accelerators, and venture networks, we connect clients to capital sources, advisors, and strategic partners.
Our attorneys also understand the financial realities of early-stage growth. Competitive rates and, where appropriate, fixed-fee and alternative billing arrangements help startups manage legal costs while building long-term enterprise value.
Since 2012, Procopio has supported select high-growth startups through LaunchPad, the firm’s in-house incubator program based in San Diego. Few law firms host an incubator within their own offices; LaunchPad reflects our long-standing commitment to working alongside founders at the earliest and most formative stages of growth.
A limited number of emerging technology and life sciences companies work directly with our attorneys as they build, fund, and scale their businesses. Companies in the program span sectors including cybersecurity, advanced computing, biotechnology, medical technology, clean energy, and software.
Learn more about LaunchPad by Procopio.
Earlier than most founders expect. Legal structure, equity allocation, intellectual property ownership, and early fundraising documents are far easier to address at the beginning. Fixing mistakes later is typically more expensive and can delay financing.
If you are forming a company, bringing on a co-founder, issuing equity, or preparing to raise capital, it is time to involve counsel.
Online services can file formation documents. They do not address the issues that create real risk for growth companies, including founder vesting, intellectual property assignment, future financing readiness, and cap table integrity.
A company built to scale requires more than a filing.
Most venture-backed startups are formed as Delaware C corporations because that structure is familiar to investors and supports preferred stock financings and equity incentive plans.
There are situations where other structures may be appropriate. The right choice depends on your goals, capital strategy, and timeline.
If you are raising capital, yes. Investors will review your charter documents, capitalization table, intellectual property ownership, and prior issuances. Gaps or errors can delay or complicate a financing.
Counsel helps ensure your company is investor-ready before you begin serious discussions.
Most startups raise capital in stages. Early funding often comes from founders, friends and family, angel investors, or seed funds. That is typically followed by institutional rounds such as Series Seed, Series A, Series B, and later rounds as the company grows.
Each round generally involves issuing equity or convertible instruments in exchange for capital, along with negotiated terms addressing valuation, governance, control, and investor rights. As the company matures, financings become more structured and more complex.
Early decisions can significantly affect ownership, dilution, and long-term flexibility.
SAFEs and convertible notes are common early-stage fundraising instruments. They allow companies to raise capital before a formal valuation is established.
Although designed to be founder-friendly, their terms can materially affect dilution, control, and future financing rounds. Understanding those implications before signing is important.
Cost depends on the scope of work and the stage of your company. We offer competitive rates and, where appropriate, fixed-fee or alternative billing arrangements for early-stage companies.
Our objective is to build long-term relationships while helping founders manage legal spend responsibly.
Many founders come to us after launch. Common issues in such situations can include unclear founder vesting, improperly issued stock, missing intellectual property assignments, and inconsistent capitalization records.
These problems can often be corrected, but addressing them early reduces investor concerns and avoids unnecessary expense.
Yes. We represent venture funds, angel investors, private equity sponsors, and public company boards. That experience provides founders with insight into how investors evaluate risk, structure financings, and approach governance.
If your business relies on proprietary technology, research, or branding, the answer is yes. Investors expect the company to clearly own its intellectual property and to have taken reasonable steps to protect it.
IP strategy should align with your funding and growth plan from the outset, and proper counseling from an IP attorney is critical.
Yes. Our team advises companies through later-stage venture financings, strategic transactions, and public offerings. As part of a full-service firm, we also provide coordinated support in intellectual property, employment, tax, litigation, and cross-border matters as companies scale.
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They understand your market
From startup to breakthrough
We rely on Procopio to help us navigate the legal waters that support our fast-growing business.
Responsiveness and attention to detail is unparalleled
A Lifelong Dream
Startup founders need to know the key documents for startup formation, entity selection, governance, and operational basics if they want to succeed. Paul Johnson, Procopio's Emerging Company and Venture Capital practice leader, walks viewers through the key details necessary for solid growth and a successful exit.
Procopio Privacy and Cybersecurity practice leader Elaine Harwell offers startup founders and executives an essential guide to navigating data privacy laws and implementing compliance strategies. With the increasing importance of data in modern business operations, maintaining strong privacy practices is critical for avoiding legal risks and ensuring trust with customers.
Procopio Emerging Company and Venture Capital Partner Mike Kinkelaar discusses the important aspects of structuring the financing of a company, from its formation, first capitalization and founder contributions, through and including a Series A Preferred Stock financing, including friends and family rounds, angel financing, venture capital and strategic funding, and non-dilutive funding. He also covers Pitch Decks and Term Sheets for Startups, Debt and equity financing and differing terms and provisions, SAFE Notes, Convertible Promissory Notes, and rights preferences and privileges of equity financings, and valuation considerations.
Procopio's Helen Goldstein, co-leader of our Technology Transactions and Licensing Practice, provides startups with an introduction to technology licensing, highlighting its importance as a tool for growth, revenue generation, and collaboration. The session equips participants with the knowledge to negotiate and structure licensing agreements that align with their business goals.
Led by Procopio Employment Law Partner Marina Gruber, this video introduces startups to the fundamental principles of employment law, helping founders and managers navigate the complexities of hiring, managing employees, and ensuring compliance with labor regulations. By addressing common challenges, the session equips startups to build strong, legally compliant teams and provides startups with the tools to create a legally compliant and productive workplace, ensuring a strong foundation for growth and employee satisfaction.
