Nigerian technology entrepreneur case study: UAE entity formed with proper governance documents

The co-founders had been operating informally for 14 months, with the UAE national invoicing clients through his personal freelance permit and the Nigerian co-founder providing services remotely from Canada. They had signed nothing between themselves and had an oral agreement about equity that had never been documented. Two investors had expressed interest but had declined to go further until the corporate structure was formalised.

We advised on a UAE mainland structure to accommodate the UAE national co-founder's requirement to work with government clients, and prepared a full founders agreement covering equity, vesting, IP ownership, and exit provisions. We managed the company formation, establishment of the proper employment arrangements for both founders, and the investor-ready documentation package. We also identified the bank most suited to their activity type given their government client pipeline.

UAE entity formed with proper governance documents. Founders agreement signed. Bank account opened. First investor meeting with proper corporate documentation held within 6 weeks. USD 400,000 seed investment committed.