Lindsey S. Mignano

Lindsey S. Mignano represents emerging technology companies and industry-adjacent firms and SMEs as their outside general counsel.  Her team’s practice includes:

  • SAFE note or priced round raises for early stage (Seed through Series B) startups, including bridge/extension rounds.

  • Buy-side or sell-side acquisitions, including asset sales plus acquihires or entity acquisitions, including due diligence and any novations of existing customer contracts;

  • Flips from abroad entity structures to a DE C Corp structure for the purposes of procuring American venture capital, and the related priced round;

  • Corporate restructuring in order to achieve tax optimization for raises, sales, or cofounder exits/business divorces;

  • Corporate due diligence and clean up in preparation for a raise or sale, including due diligence and clean up related to stock grants, IP assignments, commercial contracts, etc.; 

  • IP spinouts, particularly transferring IP out of consulting businesses into a C Corp structure for QSBS or venture capital fundraising purposes; and

  • Outside general counsel services.


​Most of her clients are venture-capital funded at the Seed ($1-5M+ range), Series A ($10M+ range), and Series B ($20M+ range).  In terms of verticals, her most popular vertical includes enterprise SaaS/PaaS companies, many of whom are AI technology companies.  Her other clients include venture capital firms deploying capital to startups and other adjacent businesses who sell to or otherwise do business with technology companies.

Prior to co-founding SSM in 2016 and subsequently founding Mignano Law Group in 2026, Lindsey worked in the San Francisco office of an international law firm. She was born and raised in Hawaii, where she graduated from ‘Iolani School (H.S.D. 2003), and came to California to attend Stanford University (B.A., Feminist Studies 2007) and University of California Law, San Francisco fka Hastings College of the Law (J.D. 2010).

Lindsey is very active in San Francisco Bay Area community organizations. She currently serves on Board of Directors for Mini Cat Town, Inc. (2019 through present); on the Board of Directors for the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Justice and Diversity Center (2024-2026); as a Sustainer in The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc. (2011 through present); and as the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Real Property and Business Law Section of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (2023 through 2026).

Separate from her law practice, Lindsey founded Venture Betches and Syndicate Betches, a venture fund of fund and real estate syndicate fund of fund, respectively. Both embody a social justice mission to bring investment opportunities to historically underrepresented accredited limited partners, and fund other funds led by historically underrepresented general/managing partners.

Lindsey has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers every year from 2016-2024, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40.  In 2025, she was awarded the Super Lawyers distinction for the first time at the age of 40, an honor awarded to only 5% of attorneys, and she was one of only 12 Northern California female corporate attorneys to receive this distinction. In 2026, she was recognized as LawDragon’s “100 Managing Partners You Need to Know”.

EDUCATION

  • J.D., UC Law San Francisco fka Hastings College of the Law, 2010

  • B.A., Feminist Studies, Stanford University, 2007

  • H.S.D., Iolani School, 2003

AWARDS & RECOGNITION


​COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

  • Stanford Alumni Association's Women's Impact Network:

    • ​Board of Directors (2021 through 2025)

      • ​Board Vice-President (2023 through 2025)

  • Bar Association of San Francisco: 

    • The Justice & Diversity Center Board of Directors (2024 through 2026), Barristers Board of Directors (2019-2022)

      • Secretary (2019-2020)

      • President-Elect (2020-2021)

      • ​President (2021-2022)

    • Barristers Solo and Small Firm Section Executive Committee

      • Chair (2017-2018)

      • Member (2017 - present)

    • Bar Association of San Francisco 2020, 2024, and 2025 Audit Committees

    • Bar Association of San Francisco 2021 Diversity Legal Pipeline Advisor

    • Bar Association of San Francisco 2021 Board Development and Strategic Planning Committee

    • Bar Association of San Francisco 2023 Board Nominating Committee

    • Bar Association of San Francisco 2023 Barristers Board Nominating Committee

  • Santa Clara County Bar Association:

    • Co-Chair Executive Committee for the Real Property and Business Law Section (2023 through 2026)

  • Mini Cat Town, Inc.: 

    • Board of Directors (2018 through present)

  • Junior League of San Francisco, Inc.:

    • Sustainer Council

      • Communications Chair (2019-2020)​

      • Sustainer (2019 through present)

    • Communications Coordinator (2018-2019)

    • General Meetings & Merchandising Chair (2016-2017)


PAST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS


PRESS MENTIONS

  • TechCrunch Events. (2026, May 6). At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, all your M&A questions will be answered.‍ ‍TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/at-techcrunch-disrupt-2026-all-your-ma-questions-will-be-answered/

  • Angell, Melissa. (2026, 28 April). Going Public Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune. Try This IPO Shortcut.‍ ‍Inc. https://www.inc.com/melissa-angell/going-public-doesnt-have-to-cost-a-fortune-try-this-ipo-shortcut/91322863?oly_enc_id=1872G5177645D4F&r=1872G5177645D4F

  • Chesnokova, Sofia. (2026, 27 April). Stock options are more common in European startups, but employees still don’t get rich: here’s why.‍ ‍Tech Funding Now. https://techfundingnews.com/european-startup-stock-options-esop-employees-exit-payout/

  • Marrs, G. (2026, 6 March).  The UAE’s Startup Boom Was Built On Stability. Could Regional Conflict Now Test Founder Trust?  TechRound.  https://techround.co.uk/news/the-uaes-startup-boom-was-built-on-stability-could-regional-conflict-now-test-founder-trust/

  • Dowd, K.  (2026, 4 March).  At early stages of VC, rising round sizes and record-breaking valuations. Carta.  https://carta.com/data/record-setting-valuations/

  • Marrs, G. (2026, 24 February). Trump Imposes 10% Global Tariff After Supreme Court Ruling – What Does This Mean For SMEs Operating Internationally? TechRound.  https://techround.co.uk/news/trump-imposes-10-global-tariff-after-supreme-court-ruling-what-does-this-mean-for-smes-operating-internationally/

  • The Vertical Staff.  (2026, 20 February)  Immigrant-owned startups barred from SBA loans starting March 1. The Vertical.  https://thevertical.la/entrepreneurs/immigrant-owned-startups-barred-from-sba-loans-starting-march-1/

  • Marrs, G. (2026, 20 February)  Has Trump’s AI executive order given startups clarity or created new barriers?TechRound.  https://techround.co.uk/artificial-intelligence/has-trumps-ai-executive-order-given-startups-clarity-or-created-new-barriers/

  • Marrs, G. (2026, 18 February)  Is China’s Regulatory Landscape Stifling Or Strengthening Its Tech Sector? The Experts Weigh In.  TechRound.  https://techround.co.uk/business/is-chinas-regulatory-landscape-stifling-or-strengthening-its-tech-sector-the-experts-weigh-in/

  • Dowd, K. (2026, 9 February) Should investors be concerned about 2021 venture funds?  Carta.  https://carta.com/data/2021-venture-funds-dpi/  

  • Barry, D.  (2026, 3 February)  Humans& Bets $480M That AI Can Be Human-Centric.  reworked.  https://www.reworked.co/collaboration-productivity/humans-bets-480m-that-ai-can-be-human-centric/

  • Azevedo, M. (2025, 30 December)  Crunchbase Predicts: Why The Race For Talent And Tech Could Accelerate Startup M&A In 2026. crunchbase news.  https://news.crunchbase.com/ma/crunchbase-predicts-merger-acqusition-outlook-2026-forecast/

  • Dowd, K. (2025, September 12) Tender offers are helping fill the gap left by venture capital’s IPO lull. Carta.  ​https://carta.com/data/tender-offers-q2-2025/

  • McDonough, M. (2025, August 24) Accelerator vs. Incubator: Which is Right for Your Healthcare Startup? Cure.  https://wewillcure.com/insights/entrepreneurship/founding-and-scaling/accelerator-vs-incubator-which-is-right-for-your-healthcare-startup

  • Azevedo, M. (2025 August 21) IPO Market Outlook: Window Reopens, But Expect A Convoy, Not A Stampede. crunchbase news.  https://news.crunchbase.com/public/ipo-market-outlook-ai-h2-2025/

  • Edmonds, L. (2025, August 17) Elon Musk urged businesses to ditch Delaware. Nevada saw an opportunity.  Business Insider.  https://www.businessinsider.com/nevada-delaware-corporate-law-2025-8

  • Edmonds, L. (2025, August 14) Elon Musk called on corporations to leave Delaware. Delaware says it's doing just fine.  Business Insider.  https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-delaware-corporations-2025-8

  • McDonough, M.  (2025, August 4)  Should You Enter a Pitch Competition? What Healthcare Startups Need to Know. Cure.  https://wewillcure.com/insights/investment/should-you-enter-a-pitch-competition-what-healthcare-startups-need-to-know

  • Azevedo, M.  (2025, August 1)  Why More Startups Are Buying Other Startups In 2025. crunchbase news.  https://news.crunchbase.com/ma/startup-acquisitions-acquihire-growing-ai-fintech-2025/ 

  • Reisinger, S.  (2025, July 30) Dillard's Considering Texas Incorporation Amid 'DExit' Trend.  Law360 Pulse.  https://www.law360.com/pulse/articles/2370533/dillard-s-considering-texas-incorporation-amid-dexit-trend

  • Crook, J. (2022, March 17) Legal eagle Lindsey Mignano shares top VC financing tips at TC Early Stage. Techcrunch.  https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/17/legal-eagles-anita-koumriqian-and-lindsey-mignano-share-top-vc-financing-and-immigration-tips-at-tc-early-stage/

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ADMISSIONS

  • California