The Startup Advantage program
Legal support without any surprises – that’s the Startup Advantage.
As an entrepreneur, you have a lot on your plate. No matter what stage of growth your company is at, there always seems to be a new challenge on the horizon and not enough hours in the day to take care of everything yourself.
Our Startup Advantage program empowers you to launch your business confidently and navigate its initial stages, knowing the legal foundation that supports it is solid, streamlined and cost-effective.
Whether you’re looking to start with a firm foundation, scale up or secure funding for the future, our Startup Advantage legal team uses customized technology at fixed-fee pricing to handle the legal complexities of starting a business so you can focus on realizing your vision.
Worry less about costs and more about growth with the MLT Aikins Startup Advantage program.
Program benefits:
Predictability
The last thing a new business owner wants to see is a surprise bill at the end of the month. Our Startup Advantage packages feature fixed pricing, with no hidden fees or unexpected costs.
Flexibility
Only pay for what your business needs today. Control your own growth by accessing our Startup Advantage packages in any order, at any time, at a pace that’s right for you.
Reliability
Your Startup Advantage team will help guide you through the complexities of the legal system and teach you to avoid common pitfalls, leaving you more time to focus on your growing business.
Startup Advantage packages
No business is one-size-fits-all, that’s why we offer three different Startup Advantage program options, each with a different legal focus to meet your business where it’s at. Our packages have been intentionally tailored to provide maximum value at fixed price points, so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting, why you should care and how much you’ll be paying.
Start strong: Setting your company up right
Your initial years can make or break a new business, but a strong foundation can make all the difference when it comes to building future success. Start off on the right foot – we’ll help your business get incorporated, organized and ready to approach investors.
This package also comes with our team expansion toolkit, custom designed to prioritize your protection while letting you focus on finding the right people for the job – from outlining labour and industry guidelines to supplying you with the right documentation to make your hiring process safe, fair and beneficial for everyone involved.
Package includes:
- An initial complimentary consultation to assess legal and structural needs
- Quarterly 30-minute meetings with your personal Startup Advantage team*
- Initial meeting with employment lawyer
- Organize your business for incorporation (or amend your articles)
- Comprehensive investor readiness review
- Founders’ agreement
- Team expansion toolkit
- Employment agreement
- Consulting agreement
- Confidentiality agreement
- Employee stock option plan
- Package also includes your first intellectual property assignment at no additional cost
* Additional time may be available at a discounted rate
After year one:
- Future needs assessment
- 10% discount on legal fees for the following year
Protect what’s yours: Securing your intellectual property
Your brand is your identity, and your intellectual property is your competitive edge. Don’t risk losing everything you’ve built – our team has the tools and experience to keep both safe and secure. Rest easy knowing your assets and ideas are protected.
Package includes:
- Initial consultation to assess intellectual property (IP) strategy and needs
- Trademark application and filing
- Website terms of use
- Confidentiality agreement, as applicable
- Intellectual property assignment, as applicable
- Assignment of existing IP rights from founders to the company
- Optional invention patentability search and insights available at an additional cost (pricing depends on the complexity of the invention)
After year one:
- Future needs assessment
- 10% discount on legal fees for the following year
Plan for growth: Funding the future of your business
Whether you’re on the hunt for potential investors or opportunity has found its way to you, knowing the right way to handle your financing is key to long-term success. Knowing how and where to acquire the resources your business needs to grow is essential. Let us help you choose between funding options and supply the tools you need to close the deal.
Package includes:
- Quarterly meetings with your personal Startup Advantage team
- Comprehensive investor readiness review
- Term sheet
- SAFE offering or friend and family financing
After year one:
- 10% discount on legal fees for the following year
- Fixed fees for future seed financing or Series A financing
Our team is your advantage
Mark Mielke
Partner
Chris Nyberg
Partner
Riley Graydon
Partner
Andy Chow
Partner, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent
Ready to secure your advantage?
It’s easy to find out if the Startup Advantage program is right for you.
Fill out our Startup Advantage Checklist and get pre-qualified today!
Once you’re ready, schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation with a member of our startup legal team to see how we can help take your business to the next level.
We are your Startup Advantage.
About MLT Aikins
MLT Aikins is a full-service law firm of more than 350 lawyers with a deep commitment to Western Canada and an understanding of this market’s unique legal and business landscapes. Strategically positioned in six major centres across four provinces, MLT Aikins is one of largest law firms in Canada. We have the bench strength and geographic scope to meet the increasingly complex needs of startups.
Client commitment
We are dedicated to our clients’ businesses as if they were our own. Working with our one-team approach, we consistently prioritize our clients’ best interests, delivering practical legal advice that aligns with their goals.
Strategic partnership
At MLT Aikins, we see ourselves as more than just legal advisers—we are partners in our clients’ ventures. We leverage our extensive legal skills and deep understanding of our clients’ businesses to navigate complex legal and regulatory environments, ensuring they achieve their objectives.
Client feedback
Our client relationships are strengthened by active feedback. With a high response rate and meaningful input from more than 2,000 clients, our robust evaluation program helps us refine our services to better meet client needs. 73% of our clients rate their likelihood to recommend us as 9 or 10 out of 10.
Recognized excellence
Our dedication to service excellence has earned us accolades from publications like the Globe and Mail and Canadian Lawyer Magazine, awards from Chambers Canada, Benchmark Litigation, Lexpert and Best Lawyers, and a place among Fortune Magazine’s Go-To Law Firm.