Our VISCHER blog series guides start-ups through key legal and practical issues – from choosing the right legal form and financing to collaboration between founders and investors, due diligence and communication during financing rounds.

The individual posts highlight the decisions that matter at different stages of a start-up's development and explain how legal structures can be shaped at an early stage with foresight.

This page provides an overview of all posts in the VISCHER blog series for start-ups.

Posts in the blog series

From Concept to Reality: A Practical Guide for Start-up Founders on In-corporating a Swiss Legal Entity (Nr. 1)

The opening post compares the company limited by shares and the limited liability company as legal forms for start-ups. It explains why early incorporation can be beneficial and outlines the steps and formalities involved in incorporating a company in Switzerland.

Successfully growing a Start-up: Stages of Funding (Nr. 2)

Which type of financing suits which start-up? This post examines different types of investors and forms of financing – from friends and family, business angels and venture capital to capital increases, convertible loans and collaborations – and places them within a start-up's lifecycle.

The shareholders' agreement in the Start-up (Nr. 3)

A shareholders' agreement coordinates the interests of shareholders and sets rules for governance, voting behaviour and share transfers. This post explains the typical content of such an agreement and its relationship with the Articles of Association.

Best Co-Founders Forever? Anticipating Legal and Tax Considerations for Founders of Swiss Startups (Nr. 4)

This post examines selected legal and tax considerations for founders. It focuses on the contractual framework for their collaboration, different models for allocating equity and the distinction between founder shares and employee shares.

Preferential rights for start-up investors (Nr. 5)

Professional investors often require rights that go beyond their proportional equity interest. This post explains qualified participation rights, economic preferential rights and information rights, as well as how these may be reflected in shareholders' agreements and the Articles of Association.