An investor threatens with legal steps, board action, or public pressure. What you must do in the first 72 hours, which rights you really have, and how to exit a conflict situation without existential damage. Written by a founder-CEO who lived through the situation himself.

When runway shrinks to 3 months, it's not the options that decide — but the order in which you check and activate them. The concrete sequence, what must happen in which week, and where founder-CEOs make the most common mistakes. Written by a founder-CEO who went through the situation himself.

The interview with the accused or witnesses is the central moment of every internal investigation. What you must know about setup, instruction, documentation, and admissibility — and why most founder-CEOs should better NOT conduct the interview themselves.

The tax office announces an audit. What you do in the first 14 days matters more than the audit itself. Concrete guidance, where startups make the most common mistakes, and when a voluntary disclosure is still possible. Written by a founder-CEO who as a lawyer accompanied two audits.

When a GDPR breach happens in your startup, you have 72 hours to report to the supervisory authority. What you must do in this time, when the deadline really starts, where common founder mistakes are — and when the notification hurts you more than protects you.

A key employee quits, moves to a competitor, or founds their own — and suddenly your best customers have questions. What's legally possible, what you must do in the first 48 hours, and where the common founder mistakes are.

A co-founder wants to leave. What you do in the next 72 hours matters more than any later contract negotiation. Written by a founder-CEO who lost a co-founder himself in 2023.

When you should sign a personal guarantee for your GmbH startup as CEO — and when not. The clauses that matter. The alternatives no one mentions. Written by a founder-CEO who signed and is still paying.

When an allegation surfaces against an employee, executive, or investor in a startup, the first 72 hours decide the outcome. What founder-CEOs must do, where the common mistakes are, and when an internal investigation becomes criminally risky.

A concrete down round playbook for founders. What actually decides the outcome, how to protect your position, when to sign and when to walk. Written by a founder-CEO who went through his own down round in 2023.