We map the legal moves that turn a young company into a funding-ready business, from entity choice and clean governance to strong contracts and bankable IP. Uma Bansal shares the checklists investors trust, the red flags that stall deals, and the timing for hiring counsel. • choosing between LLC, S corp and C corp for growth and funding • separating personal and business finances to avoid liability • drafting robust contracts lenders respect • converting IP into assets and collateral • due d...