Startup Resources

Starting a business with a co-founder is exciting. You've got the shared vision, the complementary skills, and the energy to build something incredible together. But here's the thing: what happens when you don't agree on something major? What if one of you wants out? Or worse, what if you discover you have completely different expectations about equity, roles, or where the company's heading? Don't worry, because there's a solution, and it's not as complicated as it sounds. It's called a founder agreement, and it's essentially the "business prenup" every startup needs but most forget to create. What Exactly Is a Founder Agreement?Think of a founder agreement as a contract …

Right, let's tackle this one head-on because I see this question come up constantly in founder circles, and the answer isn't as straightforward as you might hope. If you're starting a business in the UK, you've probably already Googled "sole trader vs limited company" about fifty times. Don't worry, because it's not as complicated as it sounds once you understand what each structure actually means for your money, your liability, and your growth plans. Here's the honest truth: neither option is universally better. The right choice depends entirely on your specific circumstances, your risk exposure, your funding needs, your expected profits, and where you see this business …

If you’re running a startup today, you’ve likely heard a lot of noise about the use of AI for startups. And let’s face it, most of it sounds like hype. Spammy LinkedIn posts. Generic AI-written blogs. Overblown promises about “automating your entire business overnight.” No wonder many founders are sceptical about ChatGPT business use. And you know what? If you use it badly, you're not wrong. But used well, ChatGPT is one of the most powerful productivity AI tools available to startups today. In this article, we’ll show you time-saving use cases of ChatGPT for content, research and automation so you can work less, achieve more and keep your brand voice human. Let’s discu…

View File Value Proposition Checklist This Value Proposition Checklist by Strategyzer AG provides a structured guide to crafting and evaluating strong, customer-centric value propositions that drive business success. Whether you're designing a new offering or refining an existing one, this checklist ensures that your value proposition is compelling, relevant, and differentiated. Key Characteristics of a Strong Value Proposition: ✅ Built on a Solid Business Model – Ensures long-term viability. ✅ Laser-Focused on Pain Relievers & Gain Creators – Excels in a few areas rather than being average in many. ✅ Addresses Key Customer…

View File Business Plan Pack Starting a business is exciting, but success requires more than just a great idea. The Inskill Business Plan Pack helps you think through every aspect of your business, ensuring you have a clear strategy and a strong foundation for growth. What’s Inside: ✅ Structured Business Planning – Step-by-step sections to guide you from idea to execution. ✅ Practical & Concise – Focuses on key areas like goals, market research, and financial planning. ✅ User-Friendly Format – Designed in small, manageable chunks to make planning easier. ✅ Financial Planning Tools – Includes tables to help organise number…

View File Written Resolutions TemplateThis document contains written resolutions proposed under Chapter 2 of Part 13 of the Companies Act 2006 for [Company Name], a private company limited by shares. It outlines the approval process for authorising the allotment of shares and the waiver of pre-emption rights in accordance with sections 551 and 570 of the CA 2006. Key Resolutions:✅ Ordinary Resolution: Authorises the directors to allot shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £[AMOUNT] under advance subscription agreements. ✅ Special Resolution: Grants directors the power to allot equity securities without applying statutory pre-emption rights, allowing for more flexibi…

View File One Second Pitch Worksheet The One-Sentence Pitch Worksheet by the Founder Institute helps entrepreneurs craft a clear, concise, and compelling startup pitch in just one sentence. This framework is designed to effectively communicate your startup’s value to investors, customers, and stakeholders in a structured format. What This Worksheet Covers: ✅ Who You Are – Define your company name and industry. ✅ What You Do – Clearly state the problem your startup solves. ✅ Who You Serve – Identify your target customers. ✅ How You Do It – Explain your unique solution and competitive advantage. ✅ Why It Matters – Highlight t…

View File Empathy Map Worksheet The Empathy Map Worksheet by XPLANE is a powerful tool designed to help teams better understand their customers, users, or stakeholders by mapping out their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This framework is widely used in design thinking, product development, and marketing to create more customer-centric solutions. How It Works: ✅ What they THINK & FEEL – Identify thoughts, concerns, and motivations. ✅ What they SEE – Understand their environment and influences. ✅ What they SAY & DO – Capture behaviours, conversations, and interactions. ✅ What they HEAR – Recognise external influen…

View File Valuation Model SpreadsheetThis free startup valuation model from Activate Ventures provides a structured and practical approach to estimating your startup's value using multiple industry-standard methods. Whether you're preparing for investment or simply want to understand your company's worth, this tool is an essential resource. Included Valuation Methods:✅ Simple Comparables – Benchmark against similar startups for a market-driven valuation. ✅ Scorecard Valuation – Assess qualitative factors like team strength, market opportunity, and product potential. ✅ Earnings Multiple – Use revenue and profit multiples to estimate company value. ✅ Berkus Method – Assign …

View File Founder Collaboration Agreement – Free Download This Founder Collaboration Agreement is a vital document for startup co-founders looking to establish clear terms of collaboration before incorporating their business. It outlines key aspects such as equity distribution, intellectual property ownership, confidentiality, financial contributions, and founder responsibilities. By downloading this agreement, you’ll have a structured framework to ensure alignment between co-founders, protecting your business concept while setting a strong foundation for future growth. Ideal for: ✔️ Startups in the early stages of development …

Advance Subscription Agreement This Advance Subscription Agreement (ASA) Template is designed to help founders secure investment in their business by offering shares to investors at a future date. It ensures compliance with the revised SEIS rules and allows businesses to raise funds through advance subscriptions. Key features include: Clear clauses covering subscription funds, allotment of shares, and investor rights. Sections detailing representations, warranties, and investor status to ensure transparency. Easy-to-edit sections in yellow markup for founders to personalise before issuing to investors. A guide to help you complete the document and benefit from SEIS/EIS r…

View File PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS This Ordinary and Special Resolutions Template is designed to help companies formalise decisions requiring shareholder approval. The template complies with the Companies Act 2006 and includes both ordinary and special resolutions, such as authorising the allotment of shares and disapplying pre-emption rights. Key features include: Clear instructions for shareholders to signify agreement. A combined resolution for both ordinary and special matters. Guidance on returning signed documents electronically or by post. Notes on voting procedures for join…

View File Private company limited by shares Written Resolutions This Written Resolutions Agreement Template is designed to assist companies in formalising decisions that require shareholder approval. The template follows the guidelines set out in the Companies Act 2006 and provides a clear structure for passing ordinary resolutions, such as authorising the subdivision of shares. Key features include: Easy-to-follow instructions for shareholders to indicate agreement. Compliance with legal requirements for written resolutions under the Companies Act 2006. Sections for signatures, dates, and notes on the process for j…

View File Business Plan Pack Get started on your entrepreneurial journey with a comprehensive Business Plan Pack. Designed to help you turn your business idea into a reality, this pack guides you through the essential steps of planning your business in manageable chunks. From your business’s executive summary to detailed financial forecasts, each section prompts you to think critically about your strategy, market, products, and finances. This resource includes editable tables and templates, simplifying the process of creating your business plan. Additionally, financial tables are available in MS Excel format with automatic calculations…

Contractor Side Letter A Contractor Side Letter Template is designed to formalise the individual contractor’s obligations when working through a service company. This legally binding document outlines the contractor’s commitment to ensure their service company complies with the terms of a contractor agreement. It includes warranties on ownership, indemnification clauses, and direct obligations to the client should the service company fail to perform. Ideal for businesses and contractors who want to safeguard against compliance and liability risks, this side letter ensures clear, direct accountability and protects client interests under the contractor agreement. …

View File Advisor Agreement Simplify your advisory engagement with a comprehensive Advisor Agreement Template. This document outlines the key terms and conditions between advisors and companies, covering services, termination, payment, confidentiality, data protection, and intellectual property. The template is fully customisable to suit your business needs, helping you formalise relationships with advisors while ensuring compliance with UK laws such as the Bribery Act 2010 and Criminal Finances Act 2017. Whether you're looking to engage advisors on a temporary or long-term basis, this agreement ensures that both parties are protected …

View File Contractor Company Agreement This Contractor Company Agreement Template is designed to formalise the engagement between a company and a contractor company, ensuring compliance with UK laws and providing a clear structure for the working relationship. This comprehensive template outlines the responsibilities, expectations, and legal obligations of both parties, making it an essential resource for businesses engaging external contractors. Key features include: Detailed Definitions and Interpretations: Clear definitions of terms used throughout the agreement to avoid misunderstandings. Appointment and Duration: Spe…

Contract of Employment This comprehensive Employment Terms and Conditions Template provides a detailed framework for outlining the main terms of employment. It covers essential aspects such as job title, commencement of employment, probationary period, place of work, mobility, training entitlements, hours of work, remuneration, expenses, holidays, public holidays, sickness absence, and termination of employment. Key features include: Clear guidelines on job responsibilities and modifications to duties. Detailed information on probationary periods, notice requirements, and conditions for termination. Provisions for mobility and flexibility in working locations. Options fo…

Investor Majority Consent The template serves to formalise the consent of the majority of investors regarding the issuance of additional new shares. This is in accordance with the subscription and shareholders' agreement (SSA) already in place. The document ensures that all participating investors are in agreement with the terms of the new share issuance, including the price and the number of shares to be allotted. Key Components: Company Details: Basic information about the company, including the company number and name. Reference to SSA: Acknowledgement of the existing subscription and shareholders' agreement and its relevant date. Terms and Definitions: Clarification …