Justin R. Pollak

Justin Pollak brings passion and experience to counseling emerging growth companies and venture capital investors. Taking a soup-to-nuts approach, he advises high-growth businesses throughout their entire life cycle, from formation through seed-stage and growth investments, and ultimately to exit. His clients include leaders of data-driven businesses as well as investors in the digital media, fintech, enterprise software and fashion industries.

From early-stage corporate structuring to complex mergers and acquisitions between cross-border industry giants, Justin’s industry insight and proven judgment go far beyond just the legal issues.

Startup clients bring him in early for critical advice and strategic guidance on decisions that impact their businesses long term. He helps them evaluate entity structures and capital needs, nail down a business model, and incentivize their teams. Likewise, investors look to him to structure deals and negotiate terms that balance their economic and governance requirements in a way that permits the company to continue its growth trajectory. In collaborating with investors and founders, Justin builds strong relationships and achieves the best result for all stakeholders. His results-driven approach ensures transactions that work now and keep his clients agile for future opportunities.

Deeply engaged with the startup and venture communities, and experienced on both sides of the deal, Justin is a source of industry intelligence and creative solutions for both businesses and their investors. Since 2017, he has served as an advisor in Cornell Tech’s Startup Studio program, providing feedback to future entrepreneurs on everything from their fundamental business assumptions to revenue models. He is an active member of Red Bear Angels, an investment group focused on angel investments in startup companies with ties to Cornell University.