Episode 4: VC, AI, and Startup Strategy with Lindsey Mignano

In this episode of the Counsel & Tech Podcast, Mohamad Dana sits down with Lindsey Mignano, co-founder of SSM, a women-owned boutique corporate law firm operating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle.

Lindsey specializes in venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate transactions — including helping foreign companies flip into the US for financing.

🎙️ What we cover in this episode:

Lindsey’s background and SSM’s focus
– What venture capital really means today
– What startups need for their first priced round
– How lawyers evaluate business models before fundraising
– The surge in AI and where the money is flowing
– Key metrics founders need before approaching VCs
– 2025 VC market predictions and the rise of secondaries
– Expected wave of AI acquisitions
– How founders should prepare for VC or acquisition
– Reconciling founder disagreements
– Mohamad’s advice for early-stage founders
– Why not every company is meant for VC funding

🔍 Highlights:
• The difference between pre-seed, seed, Series A, and Series B
• Why ARR is becoming more important
• How AI startups are dominating early-stage funding
• Why secondaries are reshaping founder and employee liquidity
• What founders must understand about dilution and control
• The importance of understanding your market size and business model

If you're a startup founder, entrepreneur, or tech professional interested in the venture capital landscape, this episode is packed with insights you can immediately apply.

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