Confidentiality Agreement, Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

Protect your company's information with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Learn what it is, how it works and why it's important.
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CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT (NDA)

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In this type of agreement is used when a person or company (Disseminator) who has developed a new product, business idea, device, machine, service, software, etc., contacts a company (Investor or mentor or expert) to assess its commercial viability and evaluate a possible collaboration contract to launch it on the market. During the evaluation process it is necessary to protect the confidential information that the Discloser provides to its potential partner. Based on the description of the Product or Business Idea, the Agreement defines what is considered confidential information, as well as how it is to be treated by the managers and employees of the investing company receiving the information. The Agreement also regulates the exceptions to what is considered confidential information, the duration of the confidentiality commitment, as well as the indemnification of the Discloser and the applicable law in the event of a breach of the Agreement by the investing company receiving the confidential information.

A confidentiality agreement, also known as an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), is a legal document that establishes an agreement between two parties to protect shared confidential information. A confidentiality agreement in an entrepreneurial company may be used to protect commercial, technological or financial information, and to ensure that information is not disclosed to unauthorised third parties. The confidentiality agreement can be unilateral, bilateral or multilateral, depending on the number of parties involved and the nature of the information being protected.

It is important to note that, the confidentiality agreement should be drafted clearly and precisely and should include details of what information is considered confidential, the duration of the agreement, restrictions on disclosure of information and the consequences of non-compliance. The confidentiality agreement is an important tool for protecting a company's confidential information, and is essential to ensure that the interests of the company and its partners are protected, but be careful not to become a entrepreneur Gollum (+).

Do not ask an investor or mentor to sign an NDA.

If there is one thing that automatically rules you out in front of an investor, it is asking them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) P before showing them your project... for several reasons: firstly, because you are the one who is interested in them investing in your company, secondly because it shows a tremendous lack of trust and thirdly because if they agreed to sign them all, they would end up having 10,000 signed NDAs... impossible to manage.

That is not to say that, when the time comes and if he is really interested in knowing more of the detail of how you do things, he will be willing to sign it, which he will be. But if all it takes to copy your project is for someone to listen to what the idea is about, you'd better look for another project. Because the ideas per se are worthless (+). There are several reasons why an investor or mentor may not be interested in signing an NDA of an entrepreneur.

Some of these reasons include:

  1. Lack of confidence: if an investor or mentor does not trust the entrepreneur, he/she may be unwilling to sign an NDA as he/she may consider that the entrepreneur will not respect the agreement.
  2. Too wide: an NDA that is too broad and restricts the investor's or mentor's freedom to speak may be perceived as a barrier to establishing a trusting and collaborative relationship.
  3. Too restrictive: An NDA that is too restrictive may prevent the investor or mentor from sharing valuable information with other investors or mentors.
  4. Difficult to implement: an NDA that is difficult to implement or enforce may be perceived as ineffective and a waste of time for both parties.

In general, the investors or mentors, prefer a relationship of trust and transparency with entrepreneurs rather than one based on restrictive legal agreements. It is important, therefore, for entrepreneurs to consider carefully whether an NDA is necessary and, if so, to ensure that it is reasonable and balanced.

Tips for an entrepreneur to protect confidential information

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN YOUR COMPANY, HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR CREATING AN EFFECTIVE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT:

  1. Clearly identify confidential information: be sure to identify clearly and precisely what information you consider confidential. This may include commercial, technical, financial or any other information that you consider important to protect.
  2. Define a time period: establishes a limited period of time for the confidentiality of information. An appropriate time period may be 2 to 5 years, depending on the nature of the confidential information.
  3. Specify exclusions: be sure to specify exclusions, i.e. information that is not considered confidential. For example, information that is publicly available or previously known to the recipient.
  4. Establish appropriate security measures: ensure that the agreement includes appropriate measures to protect confidential information, such as restrictions on the use and distribution of the information and the disposal of the information at the end of the stated time period.
  5. Sign the agreement: Finally, make sure that both parties sign the confidentiality agreement. This can be in physical or electronic form, but it is important that both parties sign it for it to be legally valid.

Remember that a well-drafted confidentiality agreement is an effective way to protect your company's confidential information and help maintain the integrity of your business.

  • What is a confidentiality agreement?
    • R: A confidentiality agreement is a legal document that sets out an agreement between two parties to protect shared confidential information.
  • In what situations is a confidentiality agreement used?
    • R: It is used when a person or company shares confidential information with a potential partner, e.g. during the evaluation of a new product, business idea, device, machine, service, software, etc.
  • What types of information can be protected by a confidentiality agreement?
    • R: Commercial, technological or financial information can be protected, and ensure that information is not disclosed to unauthorised third parties.
  • How is a confidentiality agreement drafted?
    • R: It should be drafted clearly and precisely and should include details of what information is considered confidential, the duration of the agreement, restrictions on disclosure of information and the consequences of non-compliance.
  • Why might an investor or mentor not be interested in signing a confidentiality agreement?
    • R: Some reasons include lack of trust, an overly broad or restrictive agreement that is difficult to implement or enforce, and a preference for a trusting and transparent relationship with entrepreneurs.

What advice is given to entrepreneurs to protect confidential information?

Some tips for entrepreneurs to protect their confidential information are:

  1. Clearly identify confidential information.
  2. Define a time period for the confidentiality of information.
  3. Specify exclusions, i.e. information that is not considered confidential.
  4. Establish appropriate security measures to protect confidential information.
  5. Sign the confidentiality agreement.

These tips are important for creating an effective confidentiality agreement and protecting confidential company information.

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Jaime Cavero

Jaime Cavero

Presidente de la Aceleradora mentorDay. Inversor en startups e impulsor de nuevas empresas a través de Dyrecto, DreaperB1 y mentorDay.
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