Legal groundwork
built for founders.

You can incorporate a company independently through ACRA's BizFile portal, but most founding teams benefit from having a lawyer involved at this stage. The reason isn't the filing itself — it's the shareholders' agreement. A well-drafted agreement covering vesting, decision-making authority, and exit provisions can prevent significant disputes later. Our incorporation package addresses both elements together.

Both instruments convert into equity at a future priced round, but they have meaningful structural differences. A convertible note is a debt instrument with an interest rate and a maturity date, which means it technically needs to be repaid if the round doesn't materialise. A SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is not debt — it has no interest or maturity date and was originally designed to reduce complexity for early-stage investments. The right choice depends on your investors, the size of the round, and your jurisdiction. We can advise on what makes sense for your specific situation.

The most practical time is before you start making commitments to employees or advisors about equity participation. Setting up the plan document first — even before specific grants — means you have a clean framework in place. Investors also tend to look for a formalised ESOP during due diligence, so having it structured before a fundraising round makes the process considerably smoother.

Company incorporation in Singapore through ACRA is generally completed within one to three working days once we have all the required information. The shareholders' agreement usually takes a week or two depending on how much discussion is needed around specific provisions. We'll give you a clear timeline at the start of the engagement.

For incorporation, we'll need the personal details of all directors and shareholders, the proposed company name, the intended registered address, and an outline of the equity split. For fundraising documentation, we'll need details of the proposed round terms, investor profiles, and your current cap table. We'll send you a structured intake questionnaire once you reach out.

Yes. Many of our clients have founders based outside Singapore, including teams setting up a Singapore holding structure for a regional business. We're familiar with the additional considerations that arise in these situations, including directorship requirements, nominee arrangements, and the implications for downstream fundraising.