Payroll is one of the very few (only?) things that "pierces the corporate veil" - that is, the principals / board members are personally liable even in the event of corporate bankruptcy.
You could engage a labor lawyer, but if this was pre-series A and the founder was self-funding, there might not be any personal assets there either.
If you think the folding of the company is in good faith, you might just want to take the loss on this one.
You could engage a labor lawyer, but if this was pre-series A and the founder was self-funding, there might not be any personal assets there either.
If you think the folding of the company is in good faith, you might just want to take the loss on this one.