Indian Contract Act, 1872
Governs the agreement as a binding contract between co-founders.
Build your startup on a clear,legally sound foundation.
A comprehensive co-founders agreement defining equity ownership, vesting schedules, roles, IP assignment, and exit mechanisms — the foundational document every founding team needs before incorporation.
Equity SplitVesting ScheduleIP AssignmentFounder Exit
Rs 9,999
Fixed Price
72 Hrs
Typical Turnaround
Investor-Ready
Due Diligence Standard
What we draft for you
Our startup lawyers draft a comprehensive co-founders agreement that protects every founder's interests and prepares the company for investor due diligence.
Equity & Vesting
Define equity ownership percentages with clarity and draft vesting schedules with cliff periods to protect against early co-founder exits.
Roles & Decision-Making
Assign roles, decision-making powers, and voting rights to each founder — preventing disputes over authority as the company grows.
IP Assignment
Include IP assignment clauses ensuring all founder-created IP — before and after incorporation — belongs to the company.
Exit Mechanisms
Define buyout mechanisms, reverse vesting, and restrictions on share transfer if a co-founder exits voluntarily or involuntarily.
The 4-Step Drafting Process
A structured process that produces a comprehensive co-founders agreement accepted by investors and legally sound from day one.
01
Share Founder Details
Provide the names of all co-founders, their proposed roles, equity split, capital contributions, and any vesting preferences.
02
Lawyer Drafts the Agreement
Our startup law expert drafts a comprehensive co-founders agreement covering equity, governance, IP assignment, and exit mechanisms.
03
Review & Discuss
Co-founders review the draft together and raise any points for discussion. The lawyer can assist in facilitating a balanced outcome.
04
Final Agreement Signed
The finalised document is executed by all co-founders — a foundational document for investor due diligence.
Legal Framework
A co-founders agreement is governed by Indian contract and corporate law — and must anticipate future funding, governance, and exit scenarios.
Companies Act, 2013
Relevant for provisions relating to directorship, shareholding, and corporate governance once the company is incorporated.
Copyright Act, 1957 & Patents Act, 1970
Relevant for IP assignment clauses ensuring all IP created by founders vests in the company.
Specific Relief Act, 1963
Allows enforcement of specific obligations — such as share transfer — if a co-founder defaults on the agreement.
Client Success Stories
“We were three friends building a startup with no formal documentation. After investor interest started, they required a co-founders agreement immediately. Got one in 72 hours — investor was satisfied.”
AV
Aryan V.
Three-Founder Startup“We almost lost a co-founder dispute because we had nothing on paper. The agreement clarified everything — equity, roles, what happens if someone leaves early. Should have done this from day one.”
RS
Riya S.
Post-Conflict AgreementFrequently Asked Questions
Stamp Duty Not Included
Government stamp duty charges apply to registered documents and vary by state. These are paid directly to the government and are not part of our service fee. Your advocate will confirm the applicable amount for your state before any document is executed.
Yes, ideally. A co-founders agreement should be executed as early as possible — even before incorporation — to clarify equity and roles from day one. Many disputes arise because founders delayed this step assuming everything was informally understood.
A vesting schedule means that a founder's equity is earned over a period (typically 4 years), often with a 1-year cliff. If a founder leaves before vesting is complete, they only keep the vested portion. This prevents a departing founder from retaining full equity while the remaining team continues building.
Yes, but only with mutual consent of all co-founders and a formal amendment to the agreement. Any change to equity should also be reflected in the company's cap table and shareholder register.
The agreement should contain a clearly defined exit mechanism — including reverse vesting, a buyout formula, and restrictions on the departing founder transferring shares to third parties. Without this, an exit can be disruptive and legally complicated.