Bar Admissions
- California
Education
- Harvard University (LL.M)
- The University of Cape Town (J.D.)
- The University of Cape Town (B.A., Political Science)
vCard
Roger C. Rappoport
Partner
Biography
Roger Rappoport is co-chair of Snell & Wilmer’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Industry Group. He is a seasoned advisor to startups and emerging growth companies and the investors who finance them, guiding clients from inception through exit. With over two decades of experience in the startup ecosystem, Roger focuses on venture capital and angel investor financings, including convertible notes, SAFEs, and other debt financings. His knowledge extends to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution, development, manufacturing, and licensing transactions, as well as executive compensation and the establishment of equity incentive plans.
Roger has experience navigating numerous companies from formation to IPO and beyond, developing proactive strategies to help maximize shareholder value and steering clients through critical legal and business events. He serves a diverse array of industries, including software (B2B, B2C, and B2B2C), artificial intelligence, hardware, robotics, mobility, communications, internet, renewable energy, medical devices, med-tech, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. His experience as an entrepreneur for 10 years, before becoming a lawyer, provides him a unique and comprehensive understanding of both the legal and business challenges faced by startups and makes him an invaluable advisor for innovative companies aiming to achieve their full potential.
Credentials
Experience
Awards & Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2026), Venture Capital Law (2026)
- Advisor of the Year, BNY Mellon M&A (2017)
Previous Professional Experience
- Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves, & Savitch LLP, Partner (2004-2024)
Professional Memberships and Activities
- American Bar Association
- San Diego Software Industry Council
- San Diego Venture Group
- The State Bar of California
Community Involvement
- Connect San Diego
- Steering Committee
- EvoNexus (formerly CommNexus)
- Capital Formation Committee
- Biocom California
- Capital Formation Committee
Representative Presentations and Publications
- “Venture Capital Panel: 2025 in Review, What to Expect in 2026!”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (December 9, 2025)
- “Hear Her Story: Insights from Successful Funded Female Founders + VCs”, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (October 30, 2025)
- “Palo Alto Pitch Nights / Seed-Stage Founder Showcase”, Moderator, Heizen, Palo Alto, CA (October 8, 2025)
- “Get YC Ready”, Moderator, Heizen, Palo Alto, CA (September 25, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: What’s Hot, What’s Not! #14”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (September 4, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: What’s Hot, What’s Not! #13”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (August 28, 2025)
- “Palo Alto Pitch Nights #2: Inside the VC Mind”, Moderator, Heizen, Palo Alto, CA (August 13, 2025)
- “Backing the Future: AI Startups, Venture Capital, and What’s Next”, Moderator, Access Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, CA (July 24, 2025)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 3: Understanding the ‘Terms’ in Term Sheets”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, CA (July 17, 2025)
- “Pitch and Panel”, Judge, Heizen, Palo Alto, CA (July 9, 2025)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 2: Developing a Funding Strategy”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, CA (June 12, 2025)
- “Video AI Summit Demo Day”, Moderator, South Bay GenAI, Palo Alto, CA (June 5, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: What’s Hot, What’s Not! #11”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (May 29, 2025)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 1: Start Right, Avoid Common Mistakes & Pitfalls”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, CA (May 21, 2025)
- “Demo Day: Autonomous Agents”, Moderator, South Bay GenAI, Palo Alto, CA (May 8, 2025)
- “Pitch and Panel”, Judge, Silicon Valley Venture, Palo Alto, CA (May 7, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: Investment and Latest Innovations in Health Tech”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (April 30, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: What’s Hot, What’s Not! #10”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (April 16, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: Latest Innovations in AI”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (March 25, 2025)
- “Venture Capital Panel: What’s Hot, What’s Not!”, Moderator, Idea to IPO, Palo Alto, CA (March 19, 2025)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 3: Understanding the ‘Terms’ in Term Sheets”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, San Diego, CA (January 22, 2025)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 2: Developing a Funding Strategy”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, San Diego, CA (December 12, 2024)
- “Startup Fundamentals Part 1: Start Right, Avoid Common Mistakes & Pitfalls”, Speaker, Access Silicon Valley, San Diego, CA (November 15, 2024)
- “Setting up Startups for Success,” Panelist, Procopio International Tax Institute, San Diego, CA (May 25, 2023)
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