Does Cooley help me find investors?

Occasionally via partner introductions. Not a workflow you can rely on.

Cooley vs Wilson Sonsini vs Gunderson vs Fenwick?

All four are top venture firms. Fit depends on partner relationships and geography. Preferences vary by investor.

Do I need a firm like Cooley at pre-seed?

No — Clerky or Cooley Go templates are enough. Move to a firm at the first priced round.

Cooley vs Startup Fundraising: Law Firm vs Fundraise

Cooley is the leading law firm for venture-backed startups. Honest comparison with a dedicated fundraise CRM — different jobs entirely.

Cooley vs Startup Fundraising

Cooley is the default law firm for most institutionally-funded startups. Occasionally founders wonder if Cooley's fundraise-adjacent services overlap with a fundraise CRM. They don't.

What Cooley actually does

Formation and corporate law. Priced round negotiation and closing. Cap table maintenance. Employment law. IP law. Commercial contracts. Board and governance advice. M&A. The full legal stack for a venture-backed company.

Where Cooley stops

No investor database, no thesis matching, no outreach workflow, no deck feedback. Cooley closes the round; the process of finding investors happens well before Cooley is involved.

When Cooley is essential

First priced round onward. Any time you're negotiating investor documents rather than signing standard SAFEs. Enterprise sales with material contract redlines. Any acquisition process.

Pricing

Hourly rates in the $500-1,500/hour range depending on partner or associate. Priced round closings typically $15-60K depending on complexity. Cooley Go provides free templates for pre-priced-round work.

Cooley vs a fundraise CRM

Different jobs entirely. Cooley handles legal execution. A fundraise CRM handles investor pipeline. Every institutionally-funded startup uses both.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cooley help me find investors?: Occasionally via partner introductions. Not a workflow you can rely on.
Cooley vs Wilson Sonsini vs Gunderson vs Fenwick?: All four are top venture firms. Fit depends on partner relationships and geography. Preferences vary by investor.
Do I need a firm like Cooley at pre-seed?: No — Clerky or Cooley Go templates are enough. Move to a firm at the first priced round.

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•By Alejandro Cremades