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The Founder Desk

Africa's Founder-First Law Firm.

From your first line of code to your first term sheet to your exit, we are the legal partner that stays. Built specifically for African founders and the VC funds that back them.

Free · 30 Minutes · No Obligation

Founder Legal Health Check

A structured 30-minute call where we map your company's current legal position against what investors expect to see at your next funding stage. You leave with a clear picture of what is right, what is missing, and what to fix first.

No spam. No obligation. We respond within 24 hours.

The Founder Journey

Legal Counsel at Every Stage.

Most African founders discover legal gaps during due diligence, often the worst possible moment. We build the right foundation at the right stage, so your next investor conversation starts from a position of strength.

Stage 01 · Inception

Incorporation & Foundation

Building the legal architecture that investors will examine at every future round. Getting this right at Day 1 is far cheaper than fixing it under a live term sheet process.

  • Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI)
  • Founders' agreement & vesting schedules
  • Cap table architecture & share classes
  • IP assignment & confidentiality agreements
Stage 02 · Pre-seed & Seed

Raise-Ready

Structuring your first external capital correctly, whether a SAFE, convertible note, or priced seed round, and ensuring your first institutional investors see a clean, investor-grade company.

  • SAFE & convertible note structuring
  • Term sheet review & red flag identification
  • Due diligence preparation & clean-up
  • Shareholder agreement negotiation
Stage 03 · Series A & Growth

Scale & Govern

As institutional capital arrives and you expand across African markets, the legal complexity compounds. We provide the governance architecture that keeps your board, investors, and regulators aligned.

  • Board governance & committee structuring
  • Multi-jurisdiction subsidiary structuring
  • ESOP plan design & implementation
  • Series A+ round documentation
Stage 04 · Exit & M&A

Protect the Exit

When the acquirer's lawyers arrive, every governance gap, every undocumented decision, and every poorly-structured share class becomes a negotiating liability. We prepare you before the process begins.

  • Data room preparation & management
  • Acquisition structuring & negotiation
  • Shareholder exit mechanics
  • Post-acquisition implementation
For VC & PE Funds

The Raise-Ready Programme for Fund Managers.

The best fund managers know that governance quality at the portfolio company level directly determines LP returns. We partner with African VC and PE funds to ensure every portfolio company meets institutional governance standards.

From fund formation and LP documentation through to portfolio company GRC frameworks and exit preparation, we are the legal infrastructure layer for Africa's most ambitious funds.

For Portfolio Companies

Fractional GC. Portfolio-Wide

Embedded legal counsel across your portfolio companies on a retainer model that ensures consistent governance standards without the cost of dedicated in-house teams.

GRC Frameworks

Raise-Ready Audit for Portfolio

A structured legal health assessment for each portfolio company, benchmarked against what institutional investors and acquirers expect to see at Series A and beyond.

Our Equity-Aligned Model

Legal Counsel That Compounds, Just Like Equity.

For qualifying early-stage companies, we offer equity-for-fees structures, accepting a small equity stake in lieu of a portion of our fees. This aligns our financial incentives with your success, the same way your earliest investors do. We grow when you grow.

Discounted Fees + Equity Kicker

Reduced cash fees at incorporation, with a small warrant or founders' share grant. Best for Day 1 companies with a clear growth path.

Fee Deferral + Conversion Right

Fees accrue and convert to equity at your next round, at a discount to the round price. Protects your cash runway while keeping us fully aligned.

Transaction Warrant Kicker

Standard cash fees for transaction advisory, plus a warrant to subscribe at the round price. We co-invest in your raise alongside your investors.

Equity-for-fees arrangements are offered selectively after due diligence and require board consent. Contact us to discuss whether this model fits your situation.

Ready to build the legal foundation that keeps investors, co-founders, and regulators aligned from Day 1 to exit? Book a free 30-minute Founder Legal Health Check.