IP Ownership in Australia: What Startups, Scale-Ups and High-Growth Businesses Need to Know
For startups, scale-ups and high-growth businesses, intellectual property can be a primary driver of enterprise value. Software architecture, proprietary systems, technology and other IP assets underpin business formation, growth, strategic partnerships, investment and potential exits. Yet ownership is often assumed rather than properly documented. As businesses develop new products, engage external specialists, expand into new markets and restructure, gaps can emerge between the IP they rely on and the rights they actually hold. These gaps may remain unnoticed until a capital raise, strategic investment, acquisition or exit brings them into […]
Convertible Notes, SAFEs and Warrants The Pros, the Cons, and the Pitfalls
Introduction Convertible notes, Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) and warrants are widely used in startup capital raising in Australia, particularly across early and growth-stage funding. Each offers a way to raise capital or provide equity upside without immediately issuing shares, but each operates differently and involves distinct trade-offs. In this article our capital raising lawyers take a practical look at the pros, cons and common pitfalls of each instrument, to help founders and growth-focused businesses assess how they may affect dilution, timing and outcomes as their business grows. Key […]