#Fundraising Lawyer in France

Looking to complete your fundraising and attract investors aligned with your ambitions? At Hashtag Avocats, we assist you in your negotiations with a tailored legal and financial strategy, adapted to your start-up. We highlight your growth potential with a solid, convincing and structured case, while identifying the right investors who understand your goals and share your vision. We help you negotiate terms suited to your project in order to accelerate the growth of your company.

Why raise funds?

A fundraising round is a key financing lever for start-ups, innovative SMEs, fintechs, marketplaces, deep tech companies or companies with strong growth potential. It allows you to accelerate your development, increase your competitiveness, strengthen your teams and access new markets. In return, the investors (business angels, venture capital funds, corporate venture, family offices) become shareholders in your company.

How our expertise supports your project

At Hashtag Avocats, we draw on our in-depth knowledge of corporate law, intellectual property, tax and the digital sector to offer you comprehensive, tailored support. Our lawyers act at every stage of your fundraising, from the early stage (pre-seed, seed) to Series A, B or C, including venture capital, growth capital and hybrid financing transactions (BSA, BSA Air, convertible bonds, BSPCE, etc.).

Your partner at every stage of your fundraising

Preparation and strategy

• Defining the financing structure: choosing between opening up the share capital (ordinary shares, preference shares), convertible instruments (convertible bonds, BSA share warrants, BSA Air, SAFE) or non-dilutive solutions (loans, grants, BPI, the French public investment bank).
• Pre-money and post-money valuation: review of financial and operational indicators to determine the value of the company.
• Positioning with investors: identifying the relevant funds or business angels (sector, investment ticket, network, added value).
• Negotiation strategy: defining your priorities (amount sought, maximum dilution, control clauses, closing timetable).

Legal audit and regularisation

• Internal due diligence: checking compliance with legal obligations, existing agreements and contracts, protection of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, software), GDPR compliance, etc.
• Correcting the irregularities identified: updating the articles of association, statutory registers, employment or service contracts, managing the cap table, securing technology licences.

Strategic documentation

• Letter of intent (LOI): sets out the investor’s interest and defines the main terms of the transaction.
• Term sheet: clarifies the essential terms (valuation, governance, pre-emption rights, exit clauses, liquidation preference, etc.).
• Shareholders’ agreement: organises the governance of the company, the terms of investment and divestment, protection against dilution, good/bad leaver clauses, etc.
• Articles of association: amendments required to bring in the new shareholders, preference shares or BSPCE.

Negotiation and closing

• Final negotiation: legal and financial advice to defend your positions on the key clauses (veto rights, ratchet clauses, reporting, etc.).
• Drafting the documents and signing: minutes of general meetings, subscription forms, agreements, closing list.
• Post-closing formalities: registration with the competent bodies (Trade and Companies Register, RCS, etc.) and holding and release of the funds.

How we secure your fundraising

• 360° view: we work in corporate law, tax law, intellectual property and employment law, and assist all types of innovative companies (SaaS, biotech, AI, blockchain, cleantech…).
• Tailored strategy: every transaction is unique, and we adapt our recommendations to the maturity of your project, your sector and your growth ambitions (international expansion, diversification, scale-up).
• Optimised timetable: the success of a fundraising often depends on speed of execution. We anticipate bottlenecks (due diligence, conditions precedent) to help you meet your deadlines.
• Protecting your interests: close negotiation of critical clauses (liquidation preference, anti-dilution, control, tag-along) to preserve your decision-making power and your entrepreneurial vision.
• Network of experts: through our partners (accountants, tax advisers, banks, family offices), we offer you end-to-end support, from the business plan to the strategic audit.

Which instruments can you use to raise funds in France?

Fundraising in France: frequently asked questions

1. Who are the main investors in a fundraising round?

You can approach business angels, venture capital (VC) funds, corporate ventures or family offices. The choice depends on the amount sought, your sector of activity and the maturity of your project (early stage, growth, Series A, Series B…).

How do you prepare an effective investment case?

You need a solid pitch deck, a credible business plan and a realistic financial analysis. Also make sure your cap table is properly kept and that your contracts, articles of association and licences are in good legal order.

How is the shareholders’ agreement negotiated?

The shareholders’ agreement (pacte d’associés or pacte d’actionnaires) is the key element of post-transaction governance. It covers the allocation of powers, the dividend policy, exit clauses and protection clauses (drag-along, tag-along, liquidation preference), as well as anti-dilution.

What are the steps to a successful fundraising?

1. Financing strategy: amount sought, type of investors, structure (equity or debt).
2. Valuation: calculate the pre-money value taking into account your growth potential.
3. Legal documentation: LOI, term sheet, shareholders’ agreement, articles of association.
4. Audit and due diligence: legal and financial compliance.
5. Negotiation: secure your interests, limit dilution and preserve your vision.
6. Closing and formalities: complete the transaction (registration, transfer of funds).

How long does a fundraising round take?

Depending on the complexity of the project and the level of investor requirements, a fundraising round can take several months. Rigorous preparation helps you keep to the timetable.

Why choose Hashtag Avocats for your fundraising?

• Multidisciplinary expertise: corporate law, tax, IP/IT, GDPR, employment law…
• All financing stages: we act from seed to late stage.
• Innovative sectors: we assist projects in fintech, medtech, foodtech, proptech, AI, etc.
• Full support: from the first meeting with investors through to closing, including the due diligence and negotiation stages.
• Transparent fees: fixed fees suited to the size of your round and your needs, giving you visibility and control over your budget.

Would you like to know more?

Whether you are at the early stage or ready to start a Series A, fundraising is a crucial step that calls for technical skills and a solid negotiation strategy.

Hashtag Avocats does everything in its power to make this transaction a driver of success:

• Organising your legal data and financial data to attract reliable partners.
• Highlighting your competitive advantages to showcase your company to funds.
• Securing the investment terms so that you keep your entrepreneurial vision.

Contact us about your next fundraising round

Our team is available to answer all your questions, assess the feasibility of your project and offer you a tailored proposal. We are committed to building a relationship of trust, based on clear communication and constant involvement at your side.

Every situation is different: the information on this page is general and does not replace legal advice tailored to your case. The firm makes no promise of outcome; it commits to the means it deploys.