“Hahhhhhhh kerrrrrrrr hahhhhhhh kerrrrrrrr…” You can hear it now.
But if you use it to sell toys, you might get a nasty Star Wars themed cease and desist letter from the Galactic Empire’s legal team.
Why Venture Legal is Now Pixel Law
When I started Venture Legal in 2014 I thought it’d just be a side gig. I was starting other businesses and needed stable income. But something interesting happened–my law firm took off!…
The Easy Way to Run Payroll
Payroll usually means headaches. But whether it’s easy or hard on you depends on how you set things up. In this post we’ll explain one of the easiest ways to run payroll for your startup or…
How to Use Modifiers When Negotiating a Contract
Contracts are a part of every entrepreneur’s journey, regardless if you are a freelancer, small business, or bootstrapped startup. When you are editing a contract, consider…
The Guise of “Professionalism”
It’s easy for competitors to copy your skills, but hard for them to copy your authentic personality. Paul Jarvis dedicates an entire chapter of his book (Company of One) to personality. He…
Join the KC Tech Community at the American Royal BBQ!
You’re Invited! Together with our co-hosts, we invite you to our annual tech community party at the American Royal BBQ on Friday, September 13th. This year’s event will feature…
Stop Writing Numbers Two (2) Times!
Writing numbers two (2) times in contracts is a really dangerous thing to do. Here’s why…. Just last week, I was reviewing a contract that said “two thousand dollars…
A New Mayor is Coming; and We Have Lots of Good Options
Kansas City is “on a roll” and our next mayor should keep it rolling! According to Mayoral Candidate Jolie Justus, Kansas City is “on a roll” and I…
37 Lessons From 5 Years of “Being My Own Boss”
Five years ago I took a huge risk–I left a comfortable job at a mid-size law firm in Kansas City. Since then, I started and sold a law firm marketing company, grown Venture Legal into…
MECA Challenge: Fostering Entrepreneurship in High School
“In order for Kansas City to become the most entrepreneurial city in America, we must first transform education to produce innovative thinkers.” I had the…
It’s Global Entrepreneurship Week! Don’t Miss Out!
Global Entrepreneurship Week is a global movement aimed at driving entrepreneurship forward. Whether you are a new entrepreneur or are trying to take your…
KCMO Leaders Get it Right With Bird Agreement
Business is evolving so fast that government regulators are struggling to keep up. But here in Kansas City, we’re starting to lead. I’ve had plenty to say about how Kansas City is losing negotiations…
The GDPR: Why You Should Care & How to Comply
What is the GDPR? The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new legal framework which the European Union will use to protect the personal information of European…
7 Tips to Make Your Taxes Easier Next Year
One negative side effect of entrepreneurship is dealing with taxes. But you can use the seven tips in this article to make your life easier next tax season. 1. First, understand how…
Join Venture Legal at WordCamp Kansas City 2018
Our presentation was selected again for WordCamp Kansas City! Join us to learn the Five Legal Issues Every Freelancer Should Understand. You can buy tickets and learn about WordCamp…
Lessons on Leadership from Ex-Navy SEALs
Lessons on personal responsibility, leadership, and how to take extreme ownership of your life. Retired Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin led military units in Iraq which are often…
Advocating for Smarter Tech Education Policies on Capitol Hill
America needs a larger, better prepared, tech workforce–here’s what we proposed to our elected officials on Capitol Hill. Earlier this week myself and other tech…
A New Ritual in 2018: The Daily Stoic
I’d never studied Stoicism before, but this daily ritual has improved my life after just one month. Throughout 2018 I’m reading Ryan Holiday’s book, The Daily Stoic: 366…
The Best Entrepreneurial Resources in Kansas City
January 1st marks my four-year anniversary of “being my own boss.” And while the last four years have been exhilarating, they have also brought on plenty of stress and speed…
Can You Trademark a #Hashtag?
Hashtags. Love ’em or hate ’em, they are everywhere. But can you trademark a hashtag and prevent other businesses from using it? Last night during the “Cause if you like it, put a Ⓡ…
10 Reasons to Vote YES for a New KCI Terminal
Kansas City needs a new airport terminal. And guess what! You can help make that happen. All you have to do is vote on November 7th in favor of the new airport. Here are 10 reasons why…
Let’s Work Together to Create Modern Regulations in Kansas City
For Kansas City to thrive in the future, we must be smart about regulating new technology platforms today. Among the many things I’ve learned serving on…
How to Use the DMCA to Stop Copyright Infringers
If someone steals your work and publishes it online, you can probably take it down using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Today was not the first time (and it won’t be the…
Startups for Net Neutrality – Sign the Letter!
ISPs should not be allowed to discriminate with respect to the content it transmits. That is the heart of what is known as Net Neutrality. I’ve written about this…
THIS! This is why we love the Oxford comma and you should too!
There are those that use Oxford commas, and those that don’t. Those that don’t are wrong. Sorry, but we’re not sorry. Here’s why. The U.S. Court…
Join Venture Legal at WordCamp Kansas City 2017
If you want to learn about entrepreneurship and the law, join us at 3pm on April 28th! [EDIT: My talk was moved to 3pm.] I’m excited to announce that my topic, What…
Kansas City Delegation Visits Capitol Hill to Advocate for Tech Education
Innovation is a key force behind a strong 21st century economy; and unless the United States prioritizes technology education, we will fall behind. Last week…
People Who Use Chrome or Firefox Are More Productive
Research shows that your browser choice is an indicator of how likely you are to succeed. Adam Grant’s book, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, contains a…
Missouri Closed Tesla… You Should Help Bring it Back!
Update: The Court of Appeals issued a ruling allowing Tesla to obtain a new license for 2017 while the company appeals the lower court’s ruling. This is a positive…
NYC Enacts the Freelance Isn’t Free Act to Protect Freelancers
When a client doesn’t pay you for freelance services, your main recourse is to claim breach of contract. But now, one city is taking steps to help freelancers get…
Fellow Lawyers, Please Stop Writing Numbers Twice!
Writing numbers twice is unnecessary. It’s legalese, hard to read, and worse, more likely to cause a mistake. Let’s stop doing it! Let me explain why it should…
7 Tech Companies Helping Kansas City – KC IPP Demo Day
I attended the Kansas City Innovation Partnership Demo Day tonight at the Sprint Accelerator to learn about seven tech startups in the city’s Innovation Partnership…
A Lesson From HBO’s Westworld: Are You Stuck in a Loop?
In this week’s episode of HBO’s new series Westworld, Dr. Ford said: “We [humans] live in loops as tight and as closed as the hosts do; seldom…
Lawyers Changing the World: Legal Technology Laboratory (LTL) Prototype Jam
I was lucky to attend the Legal Technology Laboratory (LTL) Prototype Jam today at the UMKC School of Law and the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship…
Starting a Business? Don’t Create an Accidental Partnership!
Starting a business is exciting. But in the whirlwind that surrounds getting started, it is easy to make a huge mistake that can lead to a host of legal problems. In this…
If You’re Not Using Electronic Signatures, You’re Doing It Wrong!
Electronic signatures are valid in almost all situations. And if you want to make your business (or law firm) run as efficiently as possible, you should use them. In…
Tesla Sues Michigan (and I hope they win)
States like Missouri and Michigan that ban Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales model should be ashamed of their anti-innovation policies. My wife and I bought a new car last week. We love the…
Horseback Law (by Google)
While reading How Google Works I came across a section talking about “Horseback Law.” According to the authors, lawyers using old school practice methods can’t keep up with fast-moving…