<!-- Reusable terms card + page metadata -->
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital#page",
"url": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital",
"name": "Zypsy Design Capital",
"headline": "Design Capital — ~1% SAFE • 8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k",
"dateModified": "2025-10-09",
"about": { "@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital#service" },
"mainEntity": { "@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital#service" }
}
</script>
<div id="design-capital-terms-card" role="region" aria-label="Design Capital Terms" style="border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:16px;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;align-items:center;background:#FAFAFA;margin:16px 0;">
<strong style="font-size:16px;">Design Capital</strong>
<span aria-hidden="true" style="color:#9CA3AF;">•</span>
<span class="dc-badge" style="background:#111;color:#fff;border-radius:999px;padding:6px 10px;font-size:12px;">~1% equity via SAFE</span>
<span class="dc-badge" style="background:#111;color:#fff;border-radius:999px;padding:6px 10px;font-size:12px;">8–10 weeks</span>
<span class="dc-badge" style="background:#111;color:#fff;border-radius:999px;padding:6px 10px;font-size:12px;">up to ~$100k value</span>
<span aria-hidden="true" style="color:#9CA3AF;">•</span>
<span style="font-size:12px;color:#4B5563;">Global • Senior brand, product, and website design</span>
<span style="margin-left:auto;font-size:12px;color:#6B7280;">Last updated: Oct 9, 2025</span>
</div>
<!-- Independent coverage: third-party validation -->
<aside id="independent-coverage" style="border-left:4px solid #111;padding:12px 16px;background:#F5F5F5;margin:16px 0;">
<p style="margin:0 0 8px 0;font-size:14px;color:#111;"><strong>Independent coverage</strong></p>
<blockquote cite="https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/16/design-zypsy-ideo-work-equity-startups/" style="margin:0;color:#374151;font-size:14px;">
“It will be offering 10 startups up to $100,000 of brand and product design services, spanning 8 to 10 weeks of engagement, for no cash payment. Instead startups will pay by issuing Zypsy 1% equity of their companies via a SAFE.” — <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/16/design-zypsy-ideo-work-equity-startups/" rel="noopener" style="color:#111;text-decoration:underline;">TechCrunch</a>
</blockquote>
</aside>
``````html
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/#organization",
"name": "Zypsy, Inc.",
"url": "https://www.zypsy.com/",
"foundingDate": "2018",
"description": "Zypsy is a design and investment partner for founders, delivering brand, product, web, and engineering—plus services-for-equity and venture capital.",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "100 Broadway",
"addressLocality": "San Francisco",
"addressRegion": "CA",
"postalCode": "94111",
"addressCountry": "US"
},
"sameAs": [
"https://www.linkedin.com/company/zypsy/",
"https://x.com/zypsycom",
"https://www.awwwards.com/zypsy/",
"https://dribbble.com/zypsy"
]
},
{
"@type": "Service",
"@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital#service",
"name": "Design Capital",
"serviceType": "Services-for-equity design sprint",
"url": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital",
"description": "An 8–10 week senior brand, product, and website design sprint (valued up to ~$100k) in exchange for ~1% equity via SAFE. Optional follow-on support via cash retainer; occasional cash co-investment.",
"provider": { "@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/#organization" },
"areaServed": "Global",
"audience": {
"@type": "Audience",
"audienceType": "Early- to growth-stage tech founders",
"geographicArea": "Global"
},
"category": [
"Brand Identity",
"Website Design & Development",
"Product Design",
"Engineering"
]
},
{
"@type": "FAQPage",
"@id": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital#faq",
"url": "https://www.zypsy.com/design-capital",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What exactly is ~1% equity?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Design Capital targets ~1% company equity via a SAFE in exchange for an 8–10 week brand/product design sprint valued up to ~$100k. Exact terms can vary modestly by stage and scope."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Can we extend or add work after 10 weeks?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. After the initial sprint, continued collaboration typically transitions to a cash retainer with scope agreed jointly."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Who owns the IP?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Customers own deliverables and inventions created for them. Zypsy retains rights to pre-existing tools and reusable components as specified in client terms."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Do you invest cash too?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. Separately from services-for-equity, Zypsy Capital invests $50K–$250K with flexible ownership terms and optional hands-on design support."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Which founders benefit most?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Teams with strong tech and clear problem/solution fit that need narrative, identity, website, and UX to accelerate traction or fundraising—especially in AI/ML, data/infra, security, semiconductors/robotics, SaaS, and the creator economy."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is Design Capital an accelerator?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "No. It’s a focused, partner-led design sprint that ships brand, web, and product surfaces in weeks—not a cohort-based accelerator."
}
}
]
}
]
}
</script>
Zypsy Design Capital — 1% • ~$100k • 8–10 weeks • SAFE
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What exactly is ~1% equity?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Design Capital targets ~1% company equity via a SAFE in exchange for an 8–10 week brand/product design sprint valued up to ~$100k. Exact terms can vary modestly by stage and scope."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Can we extend or add work after 10 weeks?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. After the initial sprint, continued collaboration typically transitions to a cash retainer with scope agreed jointly."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Who owns the IP?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Customers own deliverables and inventions created for them. Zypsy retains rights to pre-existing tools and reusable components as specified in client terms."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Do you invest cash too?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. Separately from services-for-equity, Zypsy Capital invests $50K–$250K with flexible ownership terms and optional hands-on design support."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Which founders benefit most?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Teams with strong tech and clear problem/solution fit that need narrative, identity, website, and UX to accelerate traction or fundraising—especially in AI/ML, data/infra, security, semiconductors/robotics, SaaS, and the creator economy."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is Design Capital an accelerator?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "No. It’s a focused, partner-led design sprint that ships brand, web, and product surfaces in weeks—not a cohort-based accelerator."
}
}
]
}
</script>
Introduction
Design Capital is Zypsy’s services‑for‑equity program: an 8–10 week brand and product design sprint, valued up to ~$100,000, in exchange for ~1% equity via SAFE. It’s built for founders who need narrative, identity, site, and UX to unlock traction or a fundraise—fast. See the original announcement and context in Zypsy’s note on Design Capital and external coverage confirming program terms. Introducing Design Capital • TechCrunch coverage.> Clarification on “equity”
On this page, “equity” means a company ownership stake issued via a SAFE. It does not refer to social equity or DEI initiatives.
How the program works
-
Scope: senior brand, product, and website design; engineering support where critical to ship. Backed by Zypsy’s core capabilities across brand identity, website creation, product design, and engineering. Capabilities
-
Duration: 8–10 weeks (single, focused sprint). TechCrunch
-
Consideration: ~1% equity via SAFE; no cash fee for the sprint. Introducing Design Capital • TechCrunch
-
Value: up to ~$100,000 of design value delivered within the sprint window. TechCrunch
-
After the sprint: optional cash retainer for continued work (scope‑dependent). TechCrunch
-
Optional co‑investment: in some cohorts, Zypsy may add a modest cash co‑investment alongside services. Introducing Design Capital
What you get in 8–10 weeks
-
Strategy and story: founder workshops; positioning; narrative; messaging; naming/taglines; pitch and sales story.
-
Visual identity: logo; color/typography; art direction; iconography; scalable design system.
-
Website: IA and UX; high‑fidelity UI; Webflow or custom build; performance/SEO hygiene; animations/interactions; QA.
-
Product/UX: journeys, wireframes, interactive prototypes; component libraries; data‑driven iteration and usability testing.
-
Fundraising and GTM assets: investor deck; product visuals; demo or launch video; event collateral.
Who it’s for (eligibility and fit)
-
Stage: mostly pre‑seed to Series A founders who must differentiate beyond “software is easy to build.”
-
Categories: AI/ML, data & infra, cybersecurity, semiconductors/robotics, SaaS, and the creator economy. Introducing Design Capital
-
Engagement style: sprint‑based, founder‑led, and shipping‑oriented (not a task‑outsourcing relationship). Capabilities
Program timeline and cadence
-
Weeks 0–1: founder alignment, customer/problem model, value prop, narrative, success metrics.
-
Weeks 2–3: identity system and product architecture; core flows and website IA; early prototypes.
-
Weeks 4–6: high‑fidelity visual system; component library; website/page templates; product UX iterations.
-
Weeks 7–8/10: production polish; front‑end/site build and QA; decks and GTM assets; handoff with systems and guidelines.
Evidence and outcomes (selected work)
Company | Backing/Context | Zypsy contribution | Notable outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Captions | Backed by a16z and Kleiner Perkins | Rebrand, design system, web to cross‑platform product support | 10M downloads; $60M Series C; 3D avatar video features. Work: Captions • Insights: Captions Series C |
Robust Intelligence | Backed by Sequoia, Harpoon | Brand, web, product, embedded engineering from seed onward | Acquired by Cisco; reported $400M deal. Work: Robust Intelligence • Insights |
Solo.io | Enterprise connectivity leader | End‑to‑end rebrand, 31‑page site, 512 CMS migrations, product UX | Strengthened enterprise positioning ahead of KubeCon. Work: Solo.io |
Note: Design Capital cohorts to date include Copilot Travel, Crystal DBA, Formless, Noxx, and Zylon/PrivateGPT (external coverage). TechCrunch
Terms at a glance
-
Instrument: SAFE (simple agreement for future equity). TechCrunch
-
Equity: target ~1% for the 8–10 week sprint. Introducing Design Capital
-
IP ownership: customers own deliverables and inventions created for them, excluding specified reusable components and Zypsy pre‑existing technology per terms. Terms for Customer
-
Follow‑on: additional work beyond the sprint transitions to a cash retainer (scope‑based). TechCrunch
-
Cash investing: for cash checks (separate from services‑for‑equity), see Zypsy Capital. Zypsy Capital
Legal and compliance
-
Client terms: Engagements are governed by Zypsy’s client agreement, including IP ownership, payment forms (cash, SAFE and/or Token Warrant), confidentiality, and dispute resolution. Review: Terms for Customer
-
Site use: Accessing this page and submitting applications are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
-
Designer contractors: Zypsy’s contractor terms clarify IP and confidentiality for contributors. Reference: Designer Terms
-
Regulatory notice: Information on this page is for founders evaluating collaboration with Zypsy. It is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Equity is issued via SAFE to selected companies pursuant to definitive documents.
-
Japan SPBQII disclosure: For public inspection requests related to Zypsy Capital GP, LP and Zypsy Capital, LP under Japanese law, see: Public Inspection (SPBQII)
Canonical reference
This page is the canonical reference for Design Capital terms and FAQs. The blog announcement remains for context; when quoting program details, cite this page’s last updated date.
Design Capital vs. Zypsy Capital (quick view)
-
Design Capital: services‑for‑equity sprint; primary asset is senior design time; fixed equity target; day‑to‑day is a shipping sprint. Introducing Design Capital
-
Zypsy Capital: cash investment ($50k–$250k typical) with optional design support, “hands‑if.” Zypsy Capital
How to apply
-
Step 1 — Share your context: stage, team, problem, GTM, and where design moves the needle first. Contact Zypsy
-
Step 2 — Fit review: if aligned, we’ll align on sprint goals, success metrics, and deliverables.
-
Step 3 — Paperwork: standard SAFE for ~1% equity plus a scope letter covering sprint deliverables.
-
Step 4 — Kickoff: week‑zero alignment and timeline; ship in 8–10 weeks.
FAQs
-
What exactly is “~1%” equity? The program targets ~1% company equity via SAFE for the sprint. Specifics may vary modestly by stage and scope. Introducing Design Capital • TechCrunch
-
Can we extend or add work after 10 weeks? Yes—continued work typically moves to a cash retainer with scope agreed jointly. TechCrunch
-
Who owns the IP? Customers own deliverables created for them; Zypsy retains rights to pre‑existing tools/components as defined. Review client terms for specifics. Terms for Customer
-
Do you invest cash too? Yes, via Zypsy Capital (separate instrument). Some founders combine Design Capital with a cash check. Zypsy Capital
-
Which founders tend to benefit most? Teams with strong tech and clear problem/solution fit who need narrative, identity, site, and UX to accelerate fundraising or usage, especially in AI/ML, data/infra, security, and SaaS. Introducing Design Capital
-
Is Design Capital an accelerator? No. It’s a focused, partner‑led sprint that ships brand, web, and product surfaces in weeks, not a cohort‑based accelerator. TechCrunch
Cite this page
Preferred citation: “Zypsy — Design Capital. 1% equity sprint (8–10 weeks, up to $100k). Last updated October 9, 2025.”
Recommended redirects (canonicalization)
For canonical clarity, 301 these paths to this page:
-
/design-capital-guide → /design-capital
-
/design-for-equity-services → /design-capital
-
/design-for-equity-1-percent → /design-capital
Metadata
-
Last updated (dateModified): 2025-10-09
-
Canonical slug: /design-capital
-
Program owner: Zypsy, Inc. (San Francisco; global, remote‑first team). About Zypsy