Documents by Stage
Pre-Seed
Section titled “Pre-Seed”- Pitch deck (problem, solution, team, market)
- Cap table
- Certificate of incorporation (Delaware C-corp is the VC-standard)
- IP assignment agreements — the company must own the IP
- Founder agreements (vesting, equity split)
- SAFE or convertible note template
Everything above, plus:
- Updated deck with traction and metrics
- Basic financial model and burn projections
- 83(b) election filings
- Simple data room: incorporation docs, cap table, IP, existing contracts
Series A — Where Real Legal Paperwork Starts
Section titled “Series A — Where Real Legal Paperwork Starts”Everything above, plus a priced round:
- Term sheet
- Stock Purchase Agreement
- Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation
- Investor Rights Agreement
- Right of First Refusal & Co-Sale Agreement
- Voting Agreement
- 409A valuation (required to price employee options legally)
- Full financial model with unit economics (CAC, LTV, burn multiple)
- Formal data room and board consent documents
Series B
Section titled “Series B”Everything above, refreshed, plus:
- Reviewed or audited financials
- Updated 409A
- Detailed KPI deck — growth, retention, margins
- Amended investor agreements to include new investors
Series C+
Section titled “Series C+”Everything above, plus:
- Audited financial statements (usually mandatory)
- Full cap table with exit waterfall analysis
- Heavier governance — larger board, formal committees
- M&A-readiness: IP audits, litigation history, compliance records
Practical note: a startup lawyer, or services like Clerky, Carta, or Stripe Atlas early on, handle most templated legal work. What founders must own themselves: the pitch deck, the financial model, and the metrics/data room.