Funding & Capital Raising
Charting the Landscape of Series Seed Investing in North Texas

This was drafted in 2015 and was our first review of our early-stage financings. It’s an exciting time in North Texas for startups. All indications are that we are on the verge, if not already in the midst of, a […]


Corporate Governance
The 50-50 Equity Split(Up)

My parents are starting a business together. See, my mom runs an organic, all natural beauty salon in Upstate New York. Part of the business that she has developed over the years is using henna as an eco-friendly alternative to […]


Fantasy Sports & Gaming
Massachusetts Attorney General Says Daily Fantasy Sports Legal; State Lotteries Emerge As Potential New Rival

After reviewing the legal status of daily fantasy sports, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced last week that no federal or state laws prohibit daily fantasy sports in Massachusetts. Although Healey’s office has not yet released a formal opinion, fantasy […]


Funding & Capital Raising
Regulation A+: Good News For Non-Accredited Investors

This blog was originally published in September of 2015 but was revised in October of 2024 and is still accurate.  Recently released Regulation A+ rules are creating excitement for early-stage ventures that didn’t previously have access to VC capital and […]


Intellectual Property
Does Your Idea Really Need An NDA?

Stop demanding NDAs and whispering your ideas to friends at cocktail parties. Tell your idea to every smart person you know. Get their thoughts and ask them to work with you.


General Business
Startup Cents: Planning For Your First Year Of Legal Fees

This blog was originally published in July of 2015 but was revised in April of 2024 and is still accurate.  We oftentimes get asked by startups, “How much will I spend in legal my first year?” Since we represent hundreds […]


Funding & Capital Raising
Liquidation Preferences & Convertible Notes

It’s no secret that entrepreneur-turned-VC, Mark Suster, generally isn’t a fan of convertible notes. Here at Vela Wood, we’re fairly pro convertible notes when used responsibly in certain situations. Despite Suster’s dislike of convertible notes, he still looks out for […]


General Business
Client Spotlight: Q&A with Matt Alexander of Edition Collective

  Matt Alexander, founder of Need and Foremost, has been all the rage lately as he was recently featured in D Magazine as an emerging “titan of industry.” Matt talks with VW during our Q&A session to offer some of […]


Funding & Capital Raising
Title IV Of The JOBS Act Has Been Passed

Well, it only took 3 years, but the SEC has finally published a fact sheet on the final rules of Title IV of the JOBS Act, known as Regulation A+. In laymen’s terms, this means that everyone will be able […]


Crowdfunding
Contemporaneous Crowdfunding

A client who recently launched an intrastate, equity-based*, crowdfunding campaign in Texas called me a few weeks ago with an interesting question: “Can we do an accredited investor, interstate, equity-based crowdfunding campaign at the same time?” After some research, I called […]