Founder agreement
Roles, equity, contributions and what happens if someone leaves.
Start-up agreements in Ireland
Start-Up, Founder and Shareholder Agreements
Most founder disputes started as an unwritten agreement between people who trusted each other. Put roles, ownership and decision-making in writing before funding, growth or a change in commitment puts pressure on the team.
Clear terms protect the business and the people building it. The company, clearly documented
Shareholder agreement
Control, share transfers, deadlock and routes to an exit.
IP assignment
Make ownership of company work clear from the outset.
Practical terms. Written early.
Founder agreement
Shareholder agreement
IP assignment
Collaboration terms
Founder agreements
Write down what each founder is bringing to the company.
A founder agreement can record each person's role, expected time commitment, equity allocation and contribution. It can also address vesting and what happens when a founder leaves, reduces their hours or stops contributing.
Address the awkward scenarios while the team can still discuss them calmly. That is the point.
Specific terms beat assumptions.One founder leaves early
Agree how unvested equity is treated, what happens to shares already held and how the company can continue using work created by that founder.
A founder changes their time commitment
Set out expected involvement and a process for agreeing a move to part-time work. Link any effect on equity or responsibilities to clear, written terms.
Work began before incorporation
Identify pre-existing code, designs, research, names or other work. Record what is assigned or licensed to the company, and what remains with its creator.
Founders disagree on a key decision
Separate routine operating choices from decisions that need founder approval. Agree a route for discussion and deadlock before a disagreement stalls the business.
Shareholder agreements in Clare
Set the rules for control, ownership and exit.
A shareholder agreement puts governance arrangements in one place. It can give founders and investors a shared reference point as ownership changes.
Control and decisions
Define reserved matters that need shareholder approval, board or director responsibilities, and a practical process for resolving deadlock.
Agree who decidesShare transfers
Set transfer restrictions, pre-emption rights and permitted transfers, so existing owners know how a proposed sale of shares is handled.
Set transfer rulesSale and exit routes
Consider drag-along and tag-along rights, buy-back mechanics and how a valuation is reached if a shareholder exits.
Plan for a changeInvestment and funding
Get company documents ready before investor diligence begins.
Funding terms can affect ownership, governance and future decisions. Prepare the company records and agreements early, then make sure the written documents reflect the terms agreed with investors.
Investment documentation can be reviewed alongside advice from your tax, accounting and other professional advisers.
A clear sequence for funding documentation
01
Check the company records
Review existing share ownership, constitutional documents, founder arrangements and IP records before diligence questions arrive.
02
Record the investment terms
Document the subscription or investment terms, including share rights, information rights, proposed board representation and conditions precedent.
03
Address warranties and disclosure
Identify the warranties and supporting disclosures being requested. Keep the schedules tied to the company's actual position and records.
04
Put post-investment governance in place
Update the shareholder arrangements and internal processes so new reporting, approval and governance obligations are followed.
Collaboration, licensing and IP protection
Make ownership and use of shared work clear.
Research, product development and early commercial conversations can involve several people or organisations. Written terms should say who contributes, who owns the results and what each party can do with them.
Research and collaboration
Set out contributions, ownership of results, publication rights and responsibilities between project partners.
Licensing and commercialisation
Record permitted uses, licence scope and commercial terms for technology, brands, content or research.
Confidential discussions
Use confidentiality terms for early discussions with potential partners, suppliers and investors.
Founder and contributor IP
Clarify the company's rights to work made by founders, contractors and other contributors.
Start with your plans
Put your founding arrangements in writing.
Tell Róisín's Bespoke Contracts about your team structure, proposed equity split and commercial plans. We can discuss the documents that fit the stage your company is at.
Send an enquiry Founder and shareholder arrangements can be prepared alongside technology, SaaS and data processing agreements.