Legal & Compliance
Non-Compete Agreement
A contract restricting someone from working for competitors or starting a competing business for a specified period.
Non-competes in startup contexts apply to founders (preventing them from starting similar companies after leaving), employees (restricting work for competitors), and sometimes acquired founders. Enforceability varies dramatically by state — California bans most employee non-competes.
In Practice
The acquired founder's non-compete prevented him from starting another fintech company for 2 years post-acquisition. After 24 months, he immediately launched a competitor.
Why It Matters
Non-competes protect investor interests but can limit founder and employee mobility. The trend is toward less enforcement, especially after the FTC's 2024 proposed ban.
VC Beast Take
Non-competes are the startup world's prenup. They feel unnecessary when things are going well and become the only thing that matters when they're not.
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