Silicon Valley Review

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Silicon Valley Review is a podcast hosted by venture attorneys at Vela Wood, a boutique corporate law firm based in Dallas, TX. We review each episode of HBO’s Silicon Valley and discuss how it applies to real startups.

Vela Wood

  • Jan 16, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 20m AVG DURATION
  • 24 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Silicon Valley Review

Silicon Valley Review: Series Finale

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2020 18:03


In this episode, we review both Ep5 and Ep6 of Season 6, the final episodes of the season and of the series. We discuss terms of service, decentralized internet, Pied Piper's original story, and (spoiler alert) our thoughts on the founders' final decision to sabotage their software.

Silicon Valley Review S6, Ep5: Hooli Chocolate & Pied Piper Peanut Butter

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2019 23:17


In this episode, we review S6, Ep5: "Techics" and discuss the legalities of "unmerging" a merger, transferring ownership, and whether or not Pied Piper would be liable for Gavin's unethical actions as CEO of Hooli. 

Silicon Valley Review S6, Ep4: Cold Ice Cream & Hot Kisses

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 17:20


In this episode, we review S6, Ep4: "Maximizing Alphaness" and discuss Richard's relationship with Ethan, Jared meeting his birth parents, and Gavin's book reading.

Silicon Valley Review S6, Ep3: Board v. Shareholder Consent

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 18:50


In this episode, we review S6, Ep3: "Hooli Smokes" and discuss fiduciary duties of board members, notification requirements for emergency board meetings, and the difference between board and shareholder consent. 

Silicon Valley Review S6, Ep2: Maximo’s Valuation & Investment Offer

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 14:24


In this episode, we review S6, Ep2: "Blood Money" and discuss earnouts, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), California's female director requirement, and Maximo's valuation and investment offer. 

Silicon Valley Review S6, Ep1: Data Privacy

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2019 17:29


In this episode, we review S6, Ep1: "Artificial Lack of Intelligence" and discuss data privacy.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep8: Hockey Stick Growth, Board Control & Fiduciary Growth

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2018 23:33


In this episode, we review S5, Ep8: "Fifty-One Percent" and discuss hockey stick growth, giving up board control, and fiduciary duty.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep7: VCs vs. ICOs & Enforcing Contracts

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2018 23:27


In this episode, we review S5, Ep7: "Initial Coin Offering" and discuss ICOs, valuation milestones, harvesting user data, giving up board control, and enforcing contracts.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep6: Cease & Desist Letters, Utility Tokens & Series B Term Sheets

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2018 22:00


In this episode, we review S5, Ep6: "Artificial Emotional Intelligence" and discuss cease and desist letters, transferring utility tokens, Series B term sheets, and China's work culture.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep5: AI Romances, Glass Walls & #MeToo

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2018 15:11


In this episode, we review S5, Ep5: "Facial Recognition" and discuss how much funds typically invest in each company, what constitutes a competitor, and how the show chose to address the #MeToo movement.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep4: Reddit, Dwight’s Brother & Sticky Bear

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2018 21:26


In this episode, we review S5, Ep4: "Tech Evangelist" and discuss giving clear instructions, a benefit of being a small company, and transferring assets in a partnership.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep3: Levels of Decision-Making & Employee Retention

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2018 25:51


In this episode, we review S5, Ep3: "Chief Operating Officer" and discuss who makes day-to-day decisions v. strategic decisions v. fundamental decisions, enforcing non-competes, the three things to include in contractual agreements with your employees, and how to attract and retain great employees.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep2: Tesla, Dead Pigs & Ira Glass

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2018 14:05


In this episode, we review S5, Ep2: "Reorientation" and discuss where the Silicon Valley writers get their inspiration, the importance of growing as a leader, and how long founders usually remain the CEO.

Silicon Valley Review S5, Ep1: Acquihires, Leadership & Terminating Employees

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2018 18:25


In this episode, we review S5, Ep1: "Grow Fast or Die Slowly" and discuss the point of acquihires, efficient use of office space, the difference between leadership and decision making, and terminating employees without cause.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep10: Employee Handbooks & Terminating Employees

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2017 22:10


In this episode, we review S4, Ep10: "Server Error" and discuss legal and practical reasons for maintaining an employee handbook, distinguishing between policy and discrimination when terminating an employee, best practices for transitioning employees out, and more.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep9: A CEO’s Self-Destruction

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2017 19:34


In this episode, we review S4, Ep9: "Hooli-Con" and discuss Richard's negative patterns of behavior as the CEO of Pied Piper as well as the viability of Keenan Feldspar's company's acquisition price.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep8: Key Man Insurance v. Key Holder Clauses

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2017 22:22


In this episode, we review S4, Ep8: "The Keenan Vortex" and discuss the difference between key man insurance and key holder clauses, using another company's IP, and the likelihood of a venture deal blowing up.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep7: Did Bream Hall & Erlich Violate SEC Securities Regulation Laws?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2017 23:00


In this episode, we review S4, Ep7: "The Patent Troll" and discuss the legality of Bream Hall paying Erlich a finder’s fee, the differences between finders and broker-dealers, the pros and cons of hiring an attorney to negotiate a demand letter, and the three acts that govern investment activity.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep6: Beta Testing Best Practices & Incubators v. Accelerators

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2017 20:24


In this episode, we review S4, Ep6: "Customer Service" and discuss beta testing best practices and the differences between incubators and accelerators.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep5: Rollouts, Cash Burn & NDAs

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2017 23:22


In this episode, Kevin and Aaron review S4, Ep5: "The Blood Boy" and discuss typical rollouts in Dallas v. Silicon Valley, the importance of low cash burn, how NDAs shouldn't be the only consideration, and transferring patents.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep4: Assigning IP, Vesting Schedules & Spending Investor Money

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2017 29:47


In this episode, Kevin and Aaron review S4, Ep4: "Team Building Exercise" and discuss assigning intellectual property to the company, contribution agreements v. license agreements, getting sued, typical vesting schedules, and spending controls for investors' money.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep3: Types of Investors, Seed Funding & Collaborative VCs

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2017 18:32


In this episode, we review S4, Ep3: "Intellectual Property" and discusses the types of investors you will encounter in each stage of raising capital, how realistic a VC's $200,000 seed investment really is, and the collaborative nature of VCs in Dallas.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep2: Cocky CEOs, Ex Co-Founders & Terms of Service

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2017 17:35


In this episode, we review S4, Ep2: "Terms of Service" and discuss how CEOs should handle the spotlight, navigating relationships with ex co-founders, and terms of service and policy agreements.

Silicon Valley Review S4, Ep1: Recapitalization, Founder’s Syndrome & The Unruly Board Member

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2017 18:41


In this episode, we review S4, Ep1: "Success Failure" and discuss when you can change company ownership, the importance of product v. growth, board composition, and more.

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