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SAFE

Simple Agreement for Future Equity

A simple agreement under which funds are converted into equity only at a future funding round—typically with a valuation cap or discount.

Why it matters

Enables quick acceptance of early-stage funding without setting a valuation, which would be speculative at this stage anyway.

What's missing without it

Without such an instrument, every small investment would require a full funding round with valuation and notary involvement.

When it is used

At pre-seed and seed stages, before the first formal funding round.

How we use it

SAFE for 500,000 PLN with a 6 million PLN valuation cap and 20% discount.

Fun fact

Invented at Y Combinator in 2013 to fit the entire investment agreement on five pages. Previously, such negotiations took a month.

Numbers worth knowing

SAFE in data

50%

Według BCG Applied AI Index 2026, prawie połowa firm (7,5% future-built i 41% scaling) osiąga wymierne korzyści z AI, co obala tezę, że AI się nie opłaca

BCG2026global

17%

BCG 2026 Applied AI Index; wśród firm „future-built" odsetek wynosi 55%

BCG2026global

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