Mission
To successfully guide startups through legal issues so that they can focus on growing their companies.
Frankie Arvelo, General Partner
For years I've aided founders in establishing and running their businesses. My work has included entity formation and organization, friends and family, angel and venture capital financings, equity plan administration, corporate governance, commercial agreements, HR, resolving founder disputes, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to starting my own firm I was a partner at Richards Rodriguez & Skeith LLP and an attorney at Egan Nelson LLP. In total I've advised clients in transactions with a value over $900M.
I am open about my pricing and provide flexible options for founders. I also leverage technology (e.g. Carta) whenever I can to keep costs down so founders are only billed for true legal work.
Other Experience
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Cisco Systems, Data Analytics Consultant
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Goldman Sachs, Securities Division Compliance
Education
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University of Texas at Austin - M.B.A., 2014
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University of Pennsylvania - J.D., 2010
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University of Massachusetts at Amherst - B.S., 2007
Other
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Based in Austin, TX
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Conversant in Spanish
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Rising Tide Ventures General Partner (Angel Investments)
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SKU Mentor
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DivInc Mentor
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Techstars Mentor
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MassChallenge Mentor
Bar Admission
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Texas
Ashley Elsner, Senior Attorney
As a two time startup founder, I have been in your shoes and understand the challenges that founders face in running their businesses, especially in regulated industries.
I have year of experience in financial and fintech law and operations. This experience includes payments, banking, fund management, securities, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, stable coins, NFTs, financial regulation, policy development and implementation, data privacy, cybersecurity, and IP.
I have done entity formation and organization, trademark search and application, friends and family, angel and venture capital financings, corporate governance, commercial agreements, RFPs, and mergers and acquisitions.
Most recently I founded and operated Artery Pay, an award-winning payments system for the US cannabis industry.
Other Experience
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Artery Pay, Founder and COO/GC/CCO
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Greenshoe Asset Management, Founder and VP Operations
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Bessemer Venture Partners, Legal and Operations
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Sidley Austin LLP, Legal Assistant
Education
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Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University – MBA, 2015
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Northwestern School of Law – JD, 2015
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Yale College – BA, 2005
Other
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Based in Atlanta, GA
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Top Payments Leader Award 2021, PBC Conference
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2020 Benzinga Listmaker for Best Payments App
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2020 Benzinga Listmaker for Best Use of Blockchain
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Emerging Markets Coalition Board Member
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Foster for Humane Society of Silicon Valley
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Fluent in French
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Former Stand Up Comic
Bar Admission*
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California
* Not yet admitted to the Georgia Bar
As a new Associate at the Arvelo, PLLC team, I look forward to addressing the legal issues facing your startup and deciphering any and all legal jargon you may come across. My overarching goal is to make breaking into, and succeeding in, the startup industry easier and more affordable for clients.
I have experience in securities law, mediation and negotiation, and document review. I am eager to use everything in my arsenal to make complex legal issues easily digestible so you can focus running your startup.
Other Experience
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Venture Capital Law Clerk, Arvelo, PLLC
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Mediator for the UW Law Mediation Clinic
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Law Clerk, Law Offices of Michael W. Bugni & Associates
Education
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University of Washington School of Law – J.D., 2022
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University of Washington – B.S., 2019
Other
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Based in Austin, TX
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Co-Author for Understanding the Principles and Practice of Legal Oncology, 1st Edition
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Former Competitive Boulderer
Bar Admission*
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Washington
* Not yet admitted to the Texas Bar
David Dryburgh, Associate
A SELECTION OF OUR CLIENTS
Working With the Best
Techstars
Acquired by Cars.com, represented by Arvelo PLLC and WSGR
Y Combinator
Techstars
SKU
Alchemist, Capital Factory