--- title: "Start Smart: Funding Your Startup" description: "Start Smart is a series of seminars that provide advice from a legal perspective on issues facing entrepreneurs. In this post we learn about the legal issues associated with raising capital through Friends and Family, Seed Funding and Series A rounds. Presenter: David Lehman, K&L Gates" image: https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/hubfs/StartSmart_invest.png --- [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) Menu Close - [About](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/) - [Who We Are](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/who-we-are/) - [Annual Reports](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/annual-reports/) - [Startups/Success Stories](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [News](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/news/) - [Blog](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/) - [Innovation Institute Newsletters](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt_impact_newsletter/) - [Staff Directory](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/staff-directory/) - [Programs](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Program Listings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Events](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/events-competitions/) - [Resources](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-ii-resources/) - [For Inventors](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/for-inventors/) - [Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) - [Intellectual Property](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/) - [Inventor’s Guide](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/2021-inventors-guide/) - [Create A Startup](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/#anchortag-create-startup) - [Funding](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/funding/) - [For Industry](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Partner with Pitt](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Search Technologies](https://upitt.resoluteinnovation.com/explore) - [Explore Pitt Startups](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [Licensing Templates](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/licensing-templates/) - [Contact](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/contact/) - [Get Involved](https://go.innovation.pitt.edu/get_involved) - [Become A Mentor](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/mentor/) ##### Connect with Us - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pittinnovates) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/pittinnovates) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitt-innovation-institute) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/pittinnovates/) [Skip to main content](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/start-smart-funding-your-startup#main) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) Search for: Search Choose Research Site: Research Sites Pitt Research (main) Research Computing Research Protections Sponsored Programs Trade Compliance - [About](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/) - [Who We Are](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/who-we-are/) - [Annual Reports](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/annual-reports/) - [Startups/Success Stories](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [News](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/news/) - [Blog](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/) - [Innovation Institute Newsletters](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt_impact_newsletter/) - [Staff Directory](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/staff-directory/) - [Programs](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Program Listings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Events](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/events-competitions/) - [Navigate Our Offerings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/navigate-our-programs-step-1/) - [Resources](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-ii-resources/) - [For Inventors](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/for-inventors/) - [Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) - [Intellectual Property](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/) - [Inventor’s Guide](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/2021-inventors-guide/) - [Create A Startup](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/#anchortag-create-startup) - [Funding](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/funding/) - [For Industry](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Partner with Pitt](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Search Technologies](https://upitt.resoluteinnovation.com/explore) - [Explore Pitt Startups](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [Licensing Templates](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/licensing-templates/) - [Contact](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/contact/) - [Get Involved](https://go.innovation.pitt.edu/get_involved) - [Submit Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) # Start Smart: Funding Your Startup Posted on [October 28, 2020](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/start-smart-funding-your-startup)  The Start Smart series of legal seminars for entrepreneurs recently held a session on funding a startup. If you missed it, never fear, you can watch the recording of the Zoom session here. ![Oct- 1 Start Smart-1](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Oct-%201%20Start%20Smart-1.png?width=1080&name=Oct-%201%20Start%20Smart-1.png) Hosted by David Lehman of the firm K&L Gates, this session tackles legal issues associated with raising capital through friends and family, seed funding and Series A rounds.  Topics include: - - Structuring investments to maximize growth - Funding from incubators/accelerators, angels, venture capitalists and strategic investors. The next Start Smart Session will focus on the basic legal issues involved with new company formation, including choice of entity (LLC, C-corp, Benefit Corporation and Company alternatives), founder agreements, splitting equity and employee vesting. Participants will have a chance to work with law students to design a “legal roadmap” that will recommend the best entity option for your startup – all under the supervision of experienced startup lawyers. If you want to work with a law student, please send a description to [sad111@pitt.edu](mailto:sad111@pitt.edu) by Friday, October 30. 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