Congratulations on forming a company!

You’re creative enough to have an idea that can be brought into commerce and disciplined enough to do the work to get here. You have likely defined your concept, conducted market analysis, created a business plan, and formed a company to both establish a liability shield and help you build value in the enterprise.

So…now what? I’m asked this question often by entrepreneurs, and my answer is simple: use your BRAIN.

What Every Startup Should Know Before Signing Its First Office Lease

For many early stage companies, signing that first office lease feels like a milestone—tangible proof that the idea is becoming a real business. But commercial leases are not like apartment leases. They’re dense, heavily negotiated contracts drafted to favor the landlord, and mistakes made at this stage can follow your company for years. It is important to consider a few key lease provisions before making a decision that can influence the success of your business. 

MN Cup Applications Are Open!

It’s that time of year again!  No, not eggnog and carols, not leaves falling, not cabin season (quite yet…), but time for aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for entry in the MN Cup.  For those who are not frequent readers of entreVIEW and don’t know about the MN Cup, it is the largest annual business plan competition in the country for emerging entrepreneurs.

Latest from the Office of Small Business Advocacy

I’ve written previously about the SEC’s catchily-titled Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (OASB). In summary, the OASB was created to support emerging companies through education and guidance on capital raising and other formation/start-up issues, to provide analysis and policy recommendations, and (as the name suggests) to advocate on behalf of emerging companies and their investors, with an eye to the perspectives of, and impacts on, small businesses. 

In January 2026, the OASB released its Staff Report[1], required as part of the Office’s statutory mandate, summarizing its work and presenting research and information on capital formation and

2026 Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security Now Available

Is your business or non-profit organization compliant with federal, state, and global data privacy laws?

Our 2026 edition of A Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security, a comprehensive resource designed to help businesses and organizations understand and manage the rapidly evolving landscape of privacy and data security laws in the United States and worldwide has been published by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Corporate Formalities: A Necessary Long Game

A common pitfall of many entrepreneurs and startups is a failure to adhere to even minimal corporate “formalities” or good governance practices that can contribute to their long-term upside (positively or negatively). Corporate formalities entail things like entity formation, taking minutes at meetings, keeping reasonably detailed and up-to-date records, and the like. 

For entrepreneurs, the most important place to start is choosing the appropriate type of business entity and filing the necessary documents to legally form that entity with the appropriate state authority.

Artificial Intelligence and Your Business: What Founders Should Know Before Making Representations and Warranties

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword; instead, it’s a practical business tool that companies of all sizes are integrating into operations, products, and services. From automating routine tasks to generating insights from data, AI is transforming how entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses. But with great opportunity comes important legal and strategic considerations, especially when it comes to what founders say about AI in contracts, pitches, and marketing. I have already seen representatives and warranties regarding the usage of AI in real-life contracts in my practice! I guess the world really evolves FAST (I still remember the time when I used a flip phone and dictionary)!