SAFEs explained | The founders’ quick guide

A SAFE (which stands for Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is the most popular type of convertible for early-stage startups. It was originally created by Y Combinator in 2013. A typical SAFE sets out an investment amount, a valuation cap, and a discount, but does not include a maturity date or interest. This means that it is possible that a SAFE investment may never be repaid if an equity funding round  doesn’t happen. It also typically does not carry any additional investor rights, such as an MFN right, participation right, or information rights (see key features below for further details on what these terms mean), but these can be agreed to separately in a side letter with the investor.

Overview

A critical part of any startup’s journey is fundraising. This can be particularly challenging in the very early days of building your startup before you have any real traction, metrics, or even a launched product. In fact, during early days, not only do you struggle with limited capital but you also spend countless hours trying to find investors who are genuinely interested in your startup. So, when an investor finally expresses interest, you would want to proceed in the most efficient way possible.

That’s why the convertible has become an increasingly popular method of early-stage funding (also known as a convertible instrument). Simply put, a convertible is a contract that your startup can sign to raise money. When you sign a convertible, your startup receives an investment but does not need to issue any shares at that time. It’s called a convertible because the contract can convert into shares in your startup in the future (typically at the time you do an equity funding round). A convertible is typically signed by your topco.

Key features of a SAFE

No shares are issued at the time a SAFE is signed and money is received.

1. An investor receives a discount to the valuation of your startup at the next equity funding round. The amount is typically around 20%, though it can vary from 10% to 30% in some cases. This is essentially compensation for the investors taking a risk by investing in your startup early and not receiving shares (and the enhanced investor protections that come with holding shares) at the time of the investment.

2. In addition to the discount, the valuation may also be subject to a valuation cap. A valuation cap is the maximum valuation of that startup when calculating the conversion of the investment amount under a SAFE into shares. It can work instead of or alongside a discount (in which case, it is whatever valuation is lower between the discount and the cap). So, if an investor invests at a 20% discount with a USD 3 million valuation cap, and at the next equity funding round the startup is valued at USD 6 million, then the investor will convert at the USD 3 million valuation (i.e. an effective discount of 50%). If the startup is valued at USD 3 million, the investor would convert at USD 2,400,000 (a 20% discount) because that is lower than the cap. 

3. The valuation can be on either based on a pre-money or post-money basis.

4. While some convertibles may carry interest, a SAFE typically does not.

5. While some convertibles may have a maturity date, a SAFE does not. A maturity date means that if you do not do an equity funding round and convert the investment amount into shares by certain date (e.g. 18 months from the date of the investment) then the investor has the right to either require repayment (this is increasingly rare since it’s widely acknowledged that startups will not have the money on hand to repay) or force a conversion into shares.

6. Other rights may include:

a “most favored nation” (MFN) right, which grants the investor the right to upgrade their rights under the SAFE to any more favorable rights that are granted to other investors in future convertibles (e.g. a higher discount or lower valuation cap);

a participation right, which grants the investor the right to invest additional money in the startup’s next equity funding round[AA5], typically either an amount equal to their investment amount under the SAFE or an amount proportionate to what their percentage shareholding would be in the startup once converted; and 

information rights, which require the startup to provide certain information to the investor about its business and financials (e.g. quarterly management accounts, annual audited accounts, right to inspect books and premises)

7. None of the key rights of an investor need to be discussed or agreed at this stage. They will be negotiated as part of the next equity funding round that will be carried out by your startup.

TL;DR

1. SAFEs are a quick and simple way for your startup to raise funds.
2. You’ll typically avoid a discussion on your startup’s valuation (other than agreeing a cap) and what investor terms you have to give (other than any agreed at the SAFE stage, such as MFN right, participation right or information rights).
3. There are many types of convertibles. The most common type among early stage startups is the SAFE. Others include a convertible note, KISS or fixed percentage equity convertible.
4. Try and keep the terms of all your SAFE terms as similar as possible.
5. Take a hard look at your company capitalization (or fully diluted capitalization), including whether it’s one a pre-money or post-money basis.

Your Clara SAFE in a few easy steps

1. Sign-up on https://app.clara.co/register (or if you already have an account, login at https://app.clara.co/login).
2. Click on Generate Documents.
3. Fill out some basic information about the company and the investor.
4. Choose the investment terms (e.g. cap, discount, investment amount, investor rights).
5. Click on Generate.
6. Send to all parties for signature through our built-in DocuSign.
7. Automatically see the SAFE stored in the data room and the equity position reflected on your cap table – no further data entry is needed!