Establish clear terms for ownership, responsibilities, and the operating principles of your company. Complete all fields before obtaining signatures.
This Founder Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of the date last signed below by the Founders listed herein, for the purpose of establishing ownership, responsibilities, and operating principles of the company identified below. This Agreement shall govern the relationship between Founders during the early stage of company formation and remain in effect until superseded by a shareholder agreement or other binding governing document.
All founders and their equity ownership percentages are listed below. Percentages must total 100%. Any future adjustment requires unanimous written consent of all Founders.
| Full Legal Name | Email Address | Equity % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founder 1 | |||
| Founder 2 | |||
| Founder 3 | |||
| Founder 4 |
Each Founder agrees to fulfill the role and responsibilities designated below. Roles may be adjusted by majority vote unless otherwise specified.
| Title / Role | Primary Responsibilities | |
|---|---|---|
| Founder 1 | ||
| Founder 2 | ||
| Founder 3 | ||
| Founder 4 |
Major decisions — including fundraising, equity changes, key hires, material contracts, and company pivots — require approval by:
All equity shall be subject to the following vesting schedule to protect the company and its Founders.
Total Vesting Period
Cliff Period
Vesting Frequency (after cliff)
Acceleration Provisions
If a Founder departs — whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or due to death or incapacity — the following provisions apply.
Unvested Shares
All unvested equity shall be forfeited and returned to the company's equity pool upon departure, unless otherwise agreed in writing by all remaining Founders.
Right of First Refusal on Vested Shares
Remaining Founders shall have a right of first refusal to purchase the departing Founder's vested shares at fair market value before those shares may be transferred to any third party.
Valuation Method
Each Founder hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in any intellectual property — inventions, software, designs, trademarks, business methods, and work product — created in connection with the company's business, whether developed before or after this Agreement.
Pre-Existing IP Carve-Outs (if applicable)
Each Founder agrees to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all non-public company information — business plans, financials, investor discussions, customers, product roadmaps, pricing, and trade secrets. This obligation survives departure for:
During the Agreement term and for the period below following departure, each Founder agrees not to engage in competitive business, solicit employees or contractors, or divert customers.
Restriction Period Post-Departure
Disputes shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, the parties agree to:
This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by all Founders. It constitutes the entire understanding between the Founders with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior discussions and representations. If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
By signing below, each Founder agrees to the terms of this Founder Agreement and acknowledges having had the opportunity to seek independent legal counsel.
Advisory Note from DeFonseka: This template is a starting framework for early-stage founder alignment. It does not constitute legal advice. Founders are strongly encouraged to engage qualified legal counsel to review and finalize this Agreement under the laws of their jurisdiction before execution.