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Board Written Consent for Routine Actions

A unanimous board consent for a startup that approves a 409A valuation, option grants, a SAFE round, officers and a bank account without holding a meeting.

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About this document

A board written consent is a signed document in which every director approves resolutions without holding a meeting. This board written consent for routine actions covers the approvals a young startup needs most often: adopting a 409A valuation, granting stock options, approving a SAFE round, appointing officers and opening a bank account.

Use the board written consent between meetings, and keep only the resolutions you need. For a priced round, use the Series Seed board consent, and for notes use the convertible note board consent. The board written consent is written for a Delaware corporation, where Section 141(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law requires every director to sign unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws say otherwise.

How to fill it in

  1. Keep only the resolutions you need. Delete any section that does not apply, such as the SAFE ratification or the bank account. Keep the general authority resolution so officers can sign the paperwork that follows.
  2. Fill in the valuation and grants. Enter the appraiser, the valuation date and the per-share fair market value. List each option holder on Exhibit A with shares, ISO or NSO, vesting start date and schedule.
  3. List the SAFE investors. Add each investor, purchase amount, valuation cap and date on Exhibit B, and enter the total raised. Attach the signed SAFE forms the board is approving.
  4. Have every director sign. Each director signs and dates the consent, on paper or electronically. It takes effect when the last director signs. File the signed copy with the board minutes.
  5. Check the grant price with your lawyer. Ask your company lawyer to confirm the valuation is recent enough to support the option exercise price, and that any securities filings for the SAFEs are made on time.
Board Written Consent for Routine Actions

ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
[COMPANYNAME]

(a [companyState] corporation)

The undersigned, being all of the members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of [companyName], a [companyState] corporation (the “Company”), acting pursuant to [Section 141(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law] and the Bylaws of the Company, hereby consent to the adoption of the following resolutions, effective as of the date on which the last director signs this consent (the “Effective Date”):

Adoption of Valuation

WHEREAS, the Board has received and reviewed the independent appraisal of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock prepared by [valuationFirm] as of [valuationDate] (the “Valuation Report”), which concludes that the fair market value of the Common Stock is $[fairMarketValue] per share.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board hereby adopts the Valuation Report and determines that the fair market value of the Common Stock is $[fairMarketValue] per share as of the Effective Date, the Board having considered whether any events since the date of the Valuation Report would materially affect that value.

Stock Option Grants

RESOLVED, that the Company grants to each person listed on Exhibit A an option to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such person’s name, under the Company’s [equityPlanName] (the “Plan”), with an exercise price of $[fairMarketValue] per share, of the type and on the vesting schedule set forth on Exhibit A, and otherwise subject to the terms of the Plan and the Company’s standard form of stock option agreement; provided that any incentive stock option granted to a person who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s stock shall have an exercise price of at least 110% of that fair market value and a term of no more than five years.

Ratification of SAFE Financing

RESOLVED, that the issuance and sale by the Company of Simple Agreements for Future Equity (“SAFEs”) to the investors and in the amounts set forth on Exhibit B, for aggregate proceeds of $[totalSafeProceeds], in the forms presented to the Board, is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects; and

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Company shall reserve a sufficient number of shares of its capital stock for issuance upon conversion of the SAFEs.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the officers of the Company are authorized to file a notice on Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any notices required under state securities laws, with respect to the sale of the SAFEs.

Appointment of Officers

RESOLVED, that the following persons are appointed to the offices set forth opposite their names, each to serve at the pleasure of the Board until their successor is duly appointed or until their earlier resignation or removal: [officerName], [officerTitle]; and [officerName], [officerTitle].

Bank Accounts

RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company are authorized to open and maintain one or more deposit accounts in the name of the Company with [bankName], and that any [one] of the officers of the Company may sign checks, transfers and other instructions with respect to such accounts.

General Authority

RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company are, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to execute and deliver any document and to take any other action that such officer deems necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of the foregoing resolutions, and that any such action previously taken is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects.

This Action by Unanimous Written Consent may be executed in counterparts and by electronic signature, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This consent shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

______________________________

[directorName]

Date: _________________________

______________________________

[directorName]

Date: _________________________

______________________________

[directorName]

Date: _________________________

BEING ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXHIBIT A

STOCK OPTION GRANTS

Optionee

Shares

Type (ISO/NSO)

Vesting Commencement Date

Vesting Schedule

[optioneeName]

[shares]

[optionType]

[vestingStartDate]

[vestingSchedule]

EXHIBIT B

SAFE INVESTORS

Investor

Purchase Amount

Valuation Cap

Date

[investorName]

$[purchaseAmount]

$[valuationCap]

[safeDate]

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Frequently asked questions

Does a board written consent have to be unanimous?

Yes, for a Delaware corporation. Section 141(f) of the Delaware General Corporation Law lets the board act without a meeting only if every director consents in writing or by electronic transmission. Stockholders can act by majority written consent instead, under Section 228. Other states have their own rules, so check your state's corporation law and your bylaws.

Can directors sign a board consent electronically?

Yes. Delaware allows board consent by electronic transmission, which includes e-signature services and email. Each director's signature should be dated, because the consent takes effect when the last director signs. Keep the signed copies together with the board minutes so the company can show the approval in a later financing or sale.

How recent does a 409A valuation need to be to grant options?

An independent appraisal is generally presumed reasonable for up to 12 months, unless something material changes, such as a new financing or a big shift in revenue. The rule is in the Treasury regulations under Section 409A. Grant options at no less than fair market value on the grant date.