Startup Confidentiality Agreement for the United States

Startup Confidentiality Agreement Template for United States

A legally binding agreement used in the United States to protect a startup's confidential information, trade secrets, and proprietary data when shared with third parties. The document is governed by federal laws including the Defend Trade Secrets Act and state-specific trade secret laws. It establishes obligations for maintaining confidentiality, permitted uses of information, and consequences of unauthorized disclosure.

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download a Standard Template

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
Access for free
OR

Alternatively: Run an advanced review of an existing
Startup Confidentiality Agreement

Let Genie AI's market-leading legal AI identify missing terms, unusual language, compliance issues and more - in just seconds.
Upload your Doc

What is a Startup Confidentiality Agreement?

A Startup Confidentiality Agreement is essential when sharing sensitive business information with potential investors, employees, or partners in the United States. This agreement, governed by federal and state trade secret laws, helps protect intellectual property, business strategies, and proprietary information during business negotiations, due diligence processes, or employment discussions. It defines what constitutes confidential information, establishes handling procedures, and outlines remedies for unauthorized disclosure.

What sections should be included in a Startup Confidentiality Agreement?

1. Parties: Identification of the disclosing and receiving parties

2. Background: Context of the agreement and purpose of sharing confidential information

3. Definitions: Define key terms including 'Confidential Information', 'Trade Secrets', 'Representatives'

4. Confidentiality Obligations: Core obligations regarding protection and non-disclosure of confidential information

5. Permitted Disclosures: Circumstances under which confidential information may be disclosed

6. Term and Termination: Duration of the agreement and termination provisions

7. Return of Confidential Information: Obligations regarding return or destruction of confidential materials

What sections are optional to include in a Startup Confidentiality Agreement?

1. Non-Solicitation: Restrictions on soliciting employees or customers (used when protecting business relationships is crucial)

2. Non-Competition: Restrictions on competing activities (used when sharing highly sensitive business information, subject to state law restrictions)

3. Intellectual Property Rights: Clarification of IP ownership (used when shared information might lead to new IP creation)

What schedules should be included in a Startup Confidentiality Agreement?

1. Schedule of Confidential Information: Detailed list of specific confidential information covered

2. Authorized Representatives: List of individuals authorized to receive confidential information

3. Security Protocols: Specific security measures required for handling confidential information

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

United States

Publisher

Genie AI

Cost

Free to use
Industries

Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) 2016: Federal law providing nationwide protection for trade secrets and mandatory whistleblower immunity provisions that must be included in NDAs

Economic Espionage Act 1996: Federal criminal law that addresses trade secret theft and provides criminal penalties for misappropriation of trade secrets

SEC Regulations: Federal securities regulations affecting confidentiality agreements, particularly relevant for startups considering future public offerings and including whistleblower protection provisions

Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA): State-level uniform law adopted by most states with variations, providing definitions of trade secrets and confidential information specific to each state

State-Specific NDA Regulations: Various state laws governing NDAs, including different enforcement requirements, statute of limitations, and consideration requirements

State Employment Laws: State-specific regulations affecting employment-related confidentiality agreements, including restrictions on non-compete clauses and employee mobility rights

Duration Requirements: Legal considerations regarding reasonable term limits and duration of confidentiality obligations

Scope Requirements: Legal requirements for properly defining the scope of confidential information and including explicit exclusions of non-confidential information

Material Handling Requirements: Legal obligations regarding the return or destruction of confidential materials upon agreement termination

Enforcement Mechanisms: Legal framework for remedies and enforcement of confidentiality agreements, including injunctive relief and damages

Severability Requirements: Legal considerations for including severability clauses to maintain agreement validity if certain provisions are found unenforceable

Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Letter Of Confidentiality

A U.S.-governed legal document establishing confidentiality obligations between parties sharing sensitive information, protecting proprietary data and trade secrets under federal and state laws.

find out more

Confidentiality Agreement Attorney

U.S.-compliant confidentiality agreement for attorneys and legal professionals, protecting privileged and sensitive legal information under federal and state laws.

find out more

Cda Non Disclosure Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing confidential relationship between parties to protect proprietary information under federal and state laws.

find out more

Common Law Statutory Declaration

A formal written statement declaring facts as true under penalty of perjury under U.S. law, typically notarized or officially witnessed.

find out more

Application Form For Encumbrance Certificate

A standardized U.S. form used to request official documentation of all registered charges and encumbrances on a specific property.

find out more

Protective Order Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S. court-ordered agreement establishing protocols for handling confidential information during legal proceedings.

find out more

Cpa Firm Employee Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-compliant confidentiality agreement between CPA firms and their employees to protect sensitive client and firm information.

find out more

Commercial Lease Confidentiality Clause

A U.S.-governed clause protecting confidential information shared between parties in commercial lease arrangements.

find out more

Celebrity NDA Agreement

A U.S.-governed confidentiality agreement specifically designed to protect sensitive information in celebrity business relationships.

find out more

Massage Therapist Employment Contract

A U.S.-governed employment agreement establishing terms and conditions for licensed massage therapists, including professional standards and compliance requirements.

find out more

Unpaid Intern Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement protecting company confidential information in unpaid internship arrangements.

find out more

NDA Between Company And Vendor

A U.S.-governed confidentiality agreement protecting sensitive information shared between a company and its vendor.

find out more

Client Confidentiality Clause

A U.S.-governed legal provision protecting client confidential information shared during professional relationships.

find out more

Affidavit Of Non Disclosure

A U.S. legal sworn statement declaring commitment to maintain confidentiality of specific information, executed under oath and notarized.

find out more

Non Disclosure Agreement Real Estate Development

A U.S.-compliant NDA designed to protect confidential information in real estate development projects.

find out more

Payroll Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement protecting confidential payroll information and establishing employee obligations for handling sensitive compensation data.

find out more

Non Disclosure Agreement Regarding Salary

A US-compliant agreement protecting salary information confidentiality while respecting federal and state labor laws.

find out more

Secrecy Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing confidentiality obligations between parties to protect sensitive information.

find out more

Mutual NDA Agreement

A U.S.-governed bilateral agreement protecting confidential information exchanged between parties, with mutual obligations for maintaining secrecy.

find out more

NDA For Logo Design

A U.S.-compliant NDA protecting confidential information exchanged during logo design projects.

find out more

Generic Non Compete Agreement

A U.S. legal agreement that restricts employees from competing with their former employer, subject to state-specific enforcement rules.

find out more

First Amendment To Operating Agreement

A U.S. legal document that modifies an LLC's existing Operating Agreement while preserving unchanged original terms.

find out more

Cda Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-law governed agreement establishing confidential relationship between parties, protecting sensitive information shared during business dealings.

find out more

Self Employed Cleaning Contract

A U.S. contract establishing terms between a self-employed cleaning service provider and client, defining services, payments, and independent contractor status.

find out more

Confidentiality Agreement Doc

A U.S.-governed agreement protecting confidential information shared between parties, incorporating federal and state trade secret protections.

find out more

Employment Bargaining Agreement

A U.S.-governed contract between employers and unions/employee representatives establishing employment terms and conditions.

find out more

Cyber Security Non Disclosure Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement protecting confidential cybersecurity information and related sensitive data between parties.

find out more

Confidential Information Employment Contract

A U.S.-governed employment agreement that protects an employer's confidential information and trade secrets.

find out more

Binding Employment Agreement

A legally binding contract under U.S. law defining the employment relationship between employer and employee, including key terms and conditions.

find out more

Donor Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-based legal agreement protecting donor confidentiality and privacy in charitable giving relationships.

find out more

Nonprofit Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement protecting confidential information shared by or with nonprofit organizations.

find out more

Non Disclosure Agreement For Authors

A U.S.-compliant agreement protecting confidential information shared between publishers and authors during content creation.

find out more

Confidentiality Agreement For Accounting Employees

A U.S.-compliant confidentiality agreement protecting sensitive financial and proprietary information handled by accounting professionals.

find out more

Indemnification In Non Disclosure Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement combining confidentiality obligations with indemnification provisions to protect sensitive information and allocate liability risks.

find out more

Change Of Tenant Lease Addendum

A U.S. legal document that modifies an existing lease agreement to replace one tenant with another while maintaining original lease terms.

find out more

First Amendment To Lease

A U.S. legal document that modifies specific terms of an existing lease agreement while maintaining the validity of the original lease.

find out more

Easy Non Disclosure Agreement

A straightforward U.S.-compliant Non-Disclosure Agreement protecting confidential information shared between parties.

find out more

Startup Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement protecting startup confidential information and trade secrets shared with third parties.

find out more

Intern Agreement Confidentiality

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing internship terms and confidentiality obligations for protecting company information.

find out more

Executive Confidentiality Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement protecting company confidential information through executive-level employee obligations.

find out more
See more related templates

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

2 Docs LeftAccess Now