The Situation

A solid Founders' Agreement is the foundation for how a startup will be managed and how decisions will be made as it grows. It defines roles, responsibilities, equity splits, and what happens if things don’t go as planned. Having a strong foundation from day one can be one of the key factors of success for early-stage startups. We’ve helped multiple founding teams craft agreements that ensure clarity, trust, and smooth management throughout their journey.

Our Approach

We supported the founders of Layered, Stackpier, and Mecas AI in drafting comprehensive Founders' Agreements tailored to their unique business needs. Whether it was addressing specific matters like share transfers, ETH Zurich involvement, or equity allocation, we made sure each agreement laid out a clear framework for long-term collaboration, setting the stage for growth and minimizing friction down the road.

 📌 Key elements of a strong Founders' Agreement

 ✔️ Equity split & ownership – Who owns what, and how does dilution work?

 ✔️ Roles & responsibilities – Defining who does what to avoid future conflicts.

 ✔️ Decision-making & dispute resolution – How key choices are made and what happens in case of disagreements.

 ✔️ Exit provisions – What happens if a founder leaves voluntarily or involuntarily?

 ✔️ IP ownership – Ensuring intellectual property stays with the company, not individuals.

The Impact

With these strong foundations, the founders were ready to focus on growth, without legal headaches holding them back.

"Alfred helped us set the foundation for our company with a Founders' Agreement that covered everything we didn’t even know we needed to consider." — Dr. Selen Ercan Jenny, Co-founder, Layered GmbH

The Team

Thierry Barbey, Founding Partner (Legal Advisory)

Thomas van Gammeren, Associate (Legal Advisory)

Sandro Stich, Senior Associate (Legal Advisory)