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Founder AgreementNon Disclosure Agreement

Founder Agreement

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Founders Agreement

This agreement is dated [Date of Agreement]

The undersigned (each a “Collaborator” and together the “Collaborators”) are collaborating with the purpose of developing as a team a business concept [Describe your business], which is to be transferred to and launched by a start-up company to be formed by the Collaborators (the “Start-Up Company”). In connection therewith, and for the purposes of setting out the basis upon which the Collaborators propose to proceed in their collaboration relating to the Technology, the undersigned Collaborators hereby agree as follows:

  1. Assignment of Intellectual Property pertaining to the Business Model and Technology to the Start-Up Company
    1. Each Collaborator irrevocably grants and assigns to the Start-up Company upon its formation absolutely with full title guarantee all his or her right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property in relation to the Technology, including all ideas (however formed or unformed) and labour or work product that results from any task or work performed by any such Collaborator that relates to the Technology for the full term of such rights and all renewals and extensions.
    2. Each Collaborator irrevocably grants and assigns to the Start-up Company upon its formation absolutely with full title guarantee all his or her right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property in relation to the Technology, including all ideas (however formed or unformed) and labour or work product that results from any task or work performed by any such Collaborator that relates to the Technology for the full term of such rights and all renewals and extensions.
    3. Each Collaborator irrevocably grants and assigns to the Start-up Company upon its formation absolutely with full title guarantee all his or her right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property in relation to the Technology, including all ideas (however formed or unformed) and labour or work product that results from any task or work performed by any such Collaborator that relates to the Technology for the full term of such rights and all renewals and extensions.
  2. Share Ownership
    1. Upon formation of the Start-Up Company, the entire issued share ownership of the Start-Up Company will be initially issued as follows:
      [Name of Shareholder]
      [percentage ownership of shareholder] %
    2. Should the Collaborators wish to reserve shares for a share option pool, any such shares shall dilute all the Collaborators equally.
    3. The shares to be issued to each Collaborator upon incorporation of the Start-Up Company shall be subject to a vesting schedule so that if any such Collaborator:[Collaborator's relationship with the Start-Up Company],[termination reason]during the [two, three, four] year period from the [date of issuance of the shares in the Start-Up Company]/[effective date of this agreement], the portion of such shares that have not yet vested shall be returned to the Start-Up Company.
  3. Sale of the Intellectual Property before Incorporation
    1. If the Collaborators representing a majority of the shares that would be issued in the Start-Up Company if it were to be incorporated wish to sell the Intellectual Property to a third party, such Collaborators shall have the right to require the other Collaborators to participate in such sale in good faith on the same terms. This clause 3.1 shall expire upon incorporation of the Start-Up Company.
  4. Confidentiality
    1. Collaborator shall not at any time use, disclose or communicate to any person whatsoever any Confidential Information which the Collaborator has or which the Collaborator may have come to possess.
    2. The term “Confidential Information” means any trade/business secret, internal correspondence or communication, technical knowledge or know-how, financial information, plans, customer lists, vendor lists, pricing policies or strategies and procedures, marketing data, product data, and any formula or pattern or complication of information used in relation to the Technology or the relationship among the Collaborators described herein.
  5. Incorporation of the Start-Up Company
    1. Promptly following the execution of this agreement, the Collaborators shall cause the formation of the Start-Up Company as a [Describe your business] organised under the laws of [[Jurisdiction Country]

Each Collaborator hereby represents and warrants to the other Collaborators that he or she is not a party to any agreement or arrangement which would restrict such Collaborator’s ability to perform its obligations as set forth above and that no third party can claim any rights to the Intellectual Property or the Technology that is the subject of this agreement.

This agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Collaborators with respect to the subject matter hereof and hereby cancels, supersedes, and replaces any and all prior oral or written agreements or undertakings among the Collaborators. This agreement may be varied or amended only by the mutual written consent of the Collaborators.

This agreement and any dispute or claim (including noncontractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Each Collaborator irrevocably agrees to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

This agreement is executed as a deed and delivered on the date first stated above.

SIGNED as a DEED by
[First COLLABORATOR NAME]

in the presence of:

(witness signature)

(name)

(address)

(occupation)

For Guidance

  • Additional Clauses: You can add other clauses to the agreement, such as:
    1. A noncompete clause, which prevents collaborators from working on similar technologies or with competitors.
    2. A non-solicitation clause, which prevents collaborators from poaching clients or employees.
    3. A dispute resolution clause.
    4. Provisions for ending the collaboration.
  • Changes to Shareholder Clause: The clause allowing a majority of shareholders to force others to sell their shares has been removed. This will be covered in the company’s articles of association and any agreements made after the company is incorporated. We’ve added a clause allowing majority shareholders to sell intellectual property if the company isn’t incorporated.
  • “Successfully Develop” Clause: The term “successfully develop” is subjective. If one collaborator leaves and doesn’t believe the technology has been developed successfully, but others do, there’s no set criteria to resolve this difference.
  • Signed as a Deed: This agreement is designed to be signed as a deed (official document) to avoid potential issues with lack of consideration.

This collaboration agreement can be used by future founders to set key terms before starting a company. It covers basic terms and is intentionally short. If you want a more detailed agreement, consider using a long-form contract.

Legal Disclaimer: The content and documents on this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Transmitting this information does not create, nor does receiving it establish, an attorney-client relationship. The audience should not rely on this information without consulting a professional. The information provided is general and may not reflect the most current legal developments. It is not intended to replace legal advice or serve as a substitute for consulting with an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

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