Episode description

Startup LAWnchpad  is the podcast that educates entrepreneurs about forming, growing, and protecting a startup. Startup LAWnchpad is produced by the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic at Fordham University School of Law in New York City.

Episode Description:  Bernice Grant, Senior Director of the Entrepreneurial Law Program at Fordham University School of Law joins with Professor Dana Brakman Reiser, Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, Visiting Professor of Law at Fordham School of Law and author of Social Enterprise Law: Trust, Public Benefit, and Capital Markets, to discuss social enterprise law.

• [:30] Bernice Grant welcomes Professor Reiser and introduces her new book.
• [4:47] The legal difference between for-profit and non-profit companies.
• [6:53] An overview of a benefit corporation and the responsibilities of their directors.
• [13:14] Well known benefit corporations and what they all have in common.
• [14:39] Adopting hybrid form business models and prioritizing the mission-protected hybrid business model.
• [20:23] Advantages of using a for-profit LLC business model for philanthropic efforts.
• [26:25] Impact investing and how it is closing the gap to capital for social benefit entrepreneurs.
• [29:05] Defining the differences between benefit corporations and obtaining certification from B Labs.
• [31:30] Nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit and great book recommendations.

• “My research focuses on any place where the boundary is blurred between charity and business, non-profit and for-profit activity.” —Dana Brakman Reiser

• “Entrepreneurs who are seeking to develop a business that has a social mission have a lot of choices.” —Dana Brakman Reiser

• “We argue that to differentiate from any for-profit entity, a specialized form would have to require prioritization of the social mission.” —Dana Brakman Reiser

• “Lawyers are not there to kill your dreams. Lawyers are there to make your dreams happen.” —Dana Brakman Reiser

• Dana Brakman Reiser
• Social Enterprise Law: Trust, Public Benefit, and Capital Markets by Dana Brakman Reiser and Steven A. Dean
• Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better by Rob Reich

• Fordham’s Entrepreneurial Law Clinic
• Follow us on Twitter @FordhamELC

• Nasdaq Educational Foundation
• Fordham’s Entrepreneurial Law Advisory Council

Disclaimer:

The information contained in the Startup LAWnchpad podcast and any materials associated therewith (the “Podcast”), is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or tax advice with respect to any particular circumstance. The Podcast is not a complete overview or analysis of the topics presented, and may contain information that varies in different jurisdictions and is subject to revision, interpretation, or nullification after the date of recording. The transmission of information to you does not create a lawyer-client relationship between you and any host, guest, or their respective employer, including but not limited to Fordham University School of Law and Lincoln Square Legal Services, Inc. None of these parties shall be liable for any loss that may arise from any reliance on the Podcast. You should not rely upon the Podcast or treat it as a substitute for legal advice. You should consult a lawyer familiar with your particular circumstances and licensed in your jurisdiction for legal advice.