The Founder's Hour

Borrowing Smart — Venture Debt and Other Financing Alternatives

In this episode of The Founder's Hour, Debt Finance partner Raquel Smith [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/raquel-smith] joins hosts Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli] and Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner] to discuss venture debt facilities. They unpack the key terms founders should understand in venture debt financings, including common red flags, affirmative and negative covenants, financial covenants, and events of default. The conversation also explores the importance of building strong relationships within the venture debt ecosystem, along with the broader risks, strategic considerations, and potential pitfalls associated with venture debt financings. Speakers: Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Raquel Smith [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/raquel-smith], Partner, Debt Finance

Early Stage Funding Considerations — SAFEs and Convertible Notes

In this episode of The Founder's Hour, hosts Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli] and Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner] discuss SAFEs and convertible notes as early stage funding options, explaining the similarities and differences between the two. They cover both the basics and the nuances of these instruments, as well as their impacts on the founders that sell them and the investors that buy them. Speakers: Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Getting Started Right — Formation, Founders, and Early Decisions

Introducing The Founder's Hour, Lowenstein Sandler's Emerging Companies, Venture Capital podcast, where hosts Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli] and Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner] discuss the ins-and-outs of starting a company. In this episode, Cicirelli and Weiner cover company formation and early-stage decisions including entity type, timing, IP assignments, and vesting, among others. Speakers: Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture CapitalEric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Welcome to 'The Founder's Hour'

From Idea to Exit: Happy Hour Conversations on Forming, Growing, and Selling a Business Hosted by Lowenstein Sandler [https://lowenstein.com/] partners Eric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner] and Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli], The Founder's Hour explores the legal and business considerations facing startups—from formation to exit. Each episode is based on a monthly in-person gathering at Lowenstein's New York City office, where members of the venture community come together to discuss the topic of the month over refreshments and cocktails. Episodes feature insights from the firm's tax, intellectual property, employment, and executive benefits teams—providing practical guidance for founders, executives, and investors navigating every stage of growth. Speakers: Laura Cicirelli [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/laura-cicirelli], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture CapitalEric Weiner [https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/eric-weiner], Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital