Difference between revisions of "Fellow:Founders Workbench"
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= Overview = | = Overview = | ||
| − | Founders Workbench is a collection of | + | Founders Workbench is a collection of forms, memoranda, tools, and advice provided by [http://goodwinprocter.com/ Goodwin Procter] to aid entrepreneurs in overcoming the legal and organizational barriers to starting a company. Originally created in 2010 to provide free legal documents for C-Corporation formation, the site was expanded in April 2013 to include a full suite of advice for forming, financing, operating, staffing, growing, and legally protecting a company<ref>http://www.goodwinprocter.com/News/Press-Releases/2013/3_6_13_Goodwin-Procter-Launches-New-Founders-Workbench.aspx</ref>. |
= Purpose = | = Purpose = | ||
| + | |||
| + | Founders Workbench exists primarily to relay the legal expertise of Goodwin Procter toward early-stage entrepreneurs by giving them free, easy access to the organizational and legal documents necessary for starting a company. Within the context of Goodwin Procter, the site was also designed to communicate that Goodwin Procter understands the hurdles to entrepreneurship and the resources needed to overcome them. This plan was successful: since the site's release, both it and Goodwin Procter have gained a loyal following within the entrepreneurial community<ref>http://blog.onenorth.com/2013/04/25/new-founders-workbench-helps-entrepreneurs-kick-start-their-business-ventures/#.UkxSO99hI54</ref>. | ||
= Distinct Differences From Other Offerings = | = Distinct Differences From Other Offerings = | ||
| + | |||
| + | Founders Workbench is similar to other entrepreneurship resources in that it provides a wealth of expert advice and analysis on every stage of starting a company; it also curates stories and advice from elsewhere on the web. However, the site's unique offering is the collection of concrete tools it provides, including: | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.foundersworkbench.com/document-driver/ Document Driver]: Free automatic tools for generating important legal documents. The Doc Driver is arguably the most useful resource on Founders Workbench: it contains tools for forming either an LLC or a C-corp--including certifications, subscription letters, restriction agreements, confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements, founder agreements, and more. It should be noted that Doc Driver is intended for pure startups, and should not be used for businesses with material existing assets or operations. | ||
| + | *[http://www.foundersworkbench.com/capital-calculator/ Capital Calculator]: A calculator app for estimating the financial effects of taking on investors, accepting venture capital proposals, and selling a business. The Capital Calculator includes tools for calculating dilution, determining payout, and sharing results. | ||
| + | *[http://www.foundersworkbench.com/deal-dictionary/ Deal Dictionary]: An entrepreneur-oriented reference to simple, understandable definitions of legal and other terms used frequently by counsel and investors. | ||
= Impact Achieved For Students and Campus = | = Impact Achieved For Students and Campus = | ||
| − | (Include images, where possible, and campuses involved) | + | Founders Workbench boasts a diverse range of startups aided by the tools available at the site. These include Fashion Project, a company that resells donated high-end clothing and donates the resale profits to charity, and Songza, a mood-based music customization service<ref>http://www.foundersworkbench.com/successes-landing/</ref>. (Include images, where possible, and campuses involved) |
= Steps Required To Bring Resource to Campus = | = Steps Required To Bring Resource to Campus = | ||
| Line 16: | Line 24: | ||
= Contact Information = | = Contact Information = | ||
| + | |||
| + | = References = | ||
| + | |||
| + | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 17:40, 2 October 2013
Contents
Overview
Founders Workbench is a collection of forms, memoranda, tools, and advice provided by Goodwin Procter to aid entrepreneurs in overcoming the legal and organizational barriers to starting a company. Originally created in 2010 to provide free legal documents for C-Corporation formation, the site was expanded in April 2013 to include a full suite of advice for forming, financing, operating, staffing, growing, and legally protecting a company[1].
Purpose
Founders Workbench exists primarily to relay the legal expertise of Goodwin Procter toward early-stage entrepreneurs by giving them free, easy access to the organizational and legal documents necessary for starting a company. Within the context of Goodwin Procter, the site was also designed to communicate that Goodwin Procter understands the hurdles to entrepreneurship and the resources needed to overcome them. This plan was successful: since the site's release, both it and Goodwin Procter have gained a loyal following within the entrepreneurial community[2].
Distinct Differences From Other Offerings
Founders Workbench is similar to other entrepreneurship resources in that it provides a wealth of expert advice and analysis on every stage of starting a company; it also curates stories and advice from elsewhere on the web. However, the site's unique offering is the collection of concrete tools it provides, including:
- Document Driver: Free automatic tools for generating important legal documents. The Doc Driver is arguably the most useful resource on Founders Workbench: it contains tools for forming either an LLC or a C-corp--including certifications, subscription letters, restriction agreements, confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements, founder agreements, and more. It should be noted that Doc Driver is intended for pure startups, and should not be used for businesses with material existing assets or operations.
- Capital Calculator: A calculator app for estimating the financial effects of taking on investors, accepting venture capital proposals, and selling a business. The Capital Calculator includes tools for calculating dilution, determining payout, and sharing results.
- Deal Dictionary: An entrepreneur-oriented reference to simple, understandable definitions of legal and other terms used frequently by counsel and investors.
Impact Achieved For Students and Campus
Founders Workbench boasts a diverse range of startups aided by the tools available at the site. These include Fashion Project, a company that resells donated high-end clothing and donates the resale profits to charity, and Songza, a mood-based music customization service[3]. (Include images, where possible, and campuses involved)
Steps Required To Bring Resource to Campus
Because Founders Workbench is a centralized online resource, it can already be readily accessed by anyone or any organization--including university students.
Contact Information
References
- ↑ http://www.goodwinprocter.com/News/Press-Releases/2013/3_6_13_Goodwin-Procter-Launches-New-Founders-Workbench.aspx
- ↑ http://blog.onenorth.com/2013/04/25/new-founders-workbench-helps-entrepreneurs-kick-start-their-business-ventures/#.UkxSO99hI54
- ↑ http://www.foundersworkbench.com/successes-landing/
