Design for Equity (sweat equity, creative capital) — 1% SAFE • 8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k

1% SAFE • up to ~$100k • 8–10 weeks

Also called services‑for‑equity or work for equity, our 1% SAFE sprint trades senior brand, product, web, and engineering for equity—no upfront cash during the sprint. Based in San Francisco, we help venture‑backed and venture‑ready founders move fast.> Design for Equity (sweat equity, cash + equity, warrants) — 1% SAFE • 8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k> Press & proof: TechCrunch — 1% SAFE • 8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k • Webflow Premium Partner (since Mar 2024) • Awwwards: 2 SOTD, 10 HMs> Facts — Design for Equity

1% SAFE • up to ~$100k • 8–10 weeks • no cash during sprint

• Terms: Terms for Customer
• Team & Impact: About · Work
• Optional cash: Zypsy Capital
• Coverage: TechCrunch

Design for equity — 1% SAFE sprint (8–10 weeks, up to ~$100k)> True Design Co‑Founder: 1% SAFE • 8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k

Quick comparison vs. venture studios

Context and coverage: TechCrunch • Venture studio background: Inside Atomic This is the canonical hub for Zypsy’s services‑for‑equity program (aka Design for Equity, Design Capital). Exact terms: up to ~$100,000 of senior brand, product, web, and engineering over 8–10 weeks for ~1% equity via SAFE; no cash during the sprint. Post‑sprint, teams can continue on a cash retainer. Optional separate cash checks of $50k–$250k are available via Zypsy Capital.

Comparison sources

• Zypsy 1% SAFE Sprint terms (up to ~$100k over 8–10 weeks): TechCrunch · Zypsy Terms for Customer

• Team & impact for context (40+ launches; $2B+ client valuation growth; a16z 18, Sequoia 13): Zypsy · Work portfolio

Design + Engineering for Equity (explicit)

We accept equity via SAFE for design and engineering work.

In our 1% SAFE sprint, Zypsy delivers up to ~$100,000 of brand, product, website, and engineering over 8–10 weeks with no cash during the sprint. Explore our engineering capabilities.

How it works (diagram)

[Apply/Inquire]
     ↓
[Fit & Priorities]
     ↓
[Scope Map]
     ↓
[Paperwork — 1% SAFE for services]
     ↓
[Sprint Plan — 8–10 weeks]
     ↓
[Build — brand, product, web, eng]
     ↓
[Handoff — systems & assets]
     ↓
[Optional: continue on cash retainer / Zypsy Capital $50k–$250k]

Quick flow: Apply → Fit & Priorities → Scope Map → Paperwork (1% SAFE) → 8–10 Week Sprint → Handoff → Optional retainer/Zypsy Capital

Citations and legal

What founders use the 1% SAFE sprint for

A focused 8–10 week path to unlock traction without upfront cash. We prioritize the lane that removes your current bottleneck, then hand off or continue on cash retainer.

• MVP development

• From concept to functional PoC/MVP with brand, UX, and engineering. Typical outputs: core flows, design system, clickable prototype, or production-ready web app. See our capabilities.

• PMF acceleration

• Research, UX audit, rapid iteration, instrumentation. Typical outputs: journey/flow fixes, onboarding improvements, metrics plan, experiment backlog.

• Pitch deck & investor readiness

• Narrative, deck, demo, and site to convert. Typical outputs: investor story, data visuals, conversion-focused website, demo assets. Optional intros via Zypsy Capital.

3-step flow (equity → build → raise)

[~1% equity via SAFE]
          ↓  0 cash during sprint
[Build in 8–10 weeks: MVP, PMF proof, GTM assets]
          ↓  optional $50k–$250k checks via Zypsy Capital
[Raise: investor-ready deck/site + warm intros (fit-dependent)]

• Independent coverage: TechCrunch — “Zypsy offers $100k design for 1% via SAFE” (8–10 weeks) — https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/16/design-zypsy-ideo-work-equity-startups/

• Terms for Customer (IP ownership, payment instruments incl. SAFE/Token Warrant) — https://www.zypsy.com/legal/terms-for-customer

• Terms of Service (site/platform) — https://www.zypsy.com/legal/terms-of-service

• Privacy Policy — https://www.zypsy.com/legal/privacy-policy

• Designer Terms (clean chain of title) — https://www.zypsy.com/legal/designer-terms

Developer note (non-user facing): 301 redirect common variants to this URL: /design-for-equity, /services-for-equity, /design-capital, /1-percent-safe-sprint, /work-for-equity, /creative-capital.

Design + Engineering for Equity: 1% SAFE Sprint — up to $100k in 8–10 weeks

Also called: services‑for‑equity • sweat equity • 1% equity sprint • no upfront cash> Design Capital at a glance

A focused, senior design sprint that trades work for equity so founders can move fast without upfront cash.

8–10 weeks • up to ~$100k in design • ~1% equity via SAFE • no cash during sprint

Independent coverage: TechCrunch

At‑a‑glance (tiles)

• Proof: Covered by TechCrunch; Headquarters: San Francisco, CA; Portfolio credibility: clients backed by a16z and Sequoia (40+ launches; $2B+ client valuation gains).

  Apply via Zypsy Capital · See Terms for Customer

Cash vs. equity: This page covers the equity option. Prefer to pay cash? See our cash engagement path via Zypsy Capital. A focused brand, product, and engineering engagement for venture‑backed and venture‑ready startups. We align incentives through equity, then continue on cash retainer if needed.> Legal/Payment: Payment instruments supported — Cash or Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE). See our Terms for Customer for details.

• 1% equity via Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) • Up to $100,000 in brand, product, and engineering • 8–10 weeks • Post‑sprint cash retainer

Terms at‑a‑glance

See TechCrunch’s coverage of the program structure for additional context: Zypsy offers $100k design for 1% via SAFE.

Also known as

Quick links to common terms people use for this program:

• Design for equity

• Services for equity

• Work for equity

• Creative capital

• 1% equity sprint

Design for Equity (aka Creative Capital, Services for Equity, 1% Equity Sprint)

Design‑for‑Equity: 1% Equity Sprint (aka services for equity, creative capital)

Founders and assistants often search these terms interchangeably. Our model is the same: a focused brand and product design sprint worth up to $100,000 over 8–10 weeks in exchange for 1% equity via a SAFE.

At‑a‑glance

• Brand and product sprint for 1% equity (SAFE)

• 8–10 weeks; up to $100k in design value

• Venture‑backed and venture‑ready startups (AI/ML, infra, security, SaaS, creator)

• Optional cash checks: $50k–$250k via Zypsy Capital

• Post‑sprint, continue on cash retainer as needed

AI/ML and SaaS sector examples

Explore related work in categories that often choose our equity sprint:

• Captions — AI video studio: rebrand + unified design system; 10M+ downloads; $60M Series C.

• Cortex — Developer platform for service visibility: enterprise rebrand and website; backed by Sequoia and YC.

• Robust Intelligence — AI security: brand, web, product, and embedded engineering; acquired by Cisco for $400M.

• Solo.io — API and AI gateways: enterprise rebrand and scalable systems; KubeCon 2024 launch readiness.

Venture‑backed design capital

Alternatives to venture studios: services‑for‑equity

Founders often compare our 1% SAFE Sprint to venture studios. Studios typically take large, double‑digit equity stakes (commonly 20–60%) and deeper control in exchange for company‑building. Our model trades a focused 8–10 week design/engineering sprint for ~1% equity, preserving founder ownership and speed.

Prefer a cash investment with optional design support? See Zypsy Capital. TechCrunch covered our program structure and inaugural cohort, including the 1% SAFE sprint and optional cash follow‑on details.

We invest small checks and run design sprints Beyond the sprint, Zypsy Capital invests $50k–$250k with flexible ownership terms while adding hands‑on design support. Learn more on Zypsy Capital.

Introduction

Zypsy partners with founders through a design-for-equity model—also known as Creative Capital, Services for Equity, or a 1% Equity Sprint—to deliver high-impact brand, product, website, and engineering work on startup timelines. The standard program provides up to $100,000 of design over 8–10 weeks in exchange for 1% equity via a SAFE, aligning incentives like a design co-founder rather than a traditional agency. See background on Zypsy’s model and cohort in TechCrunch and Zypsy’s announcement.

Zypsy focuses on venture-backed and venture-ready startups across AI/ML, SaaS, cybersecurity, infrastructure, robotics, semiconductors, and the creator economy, with a track record of 40+ launches and clients’ cumulative valuation growth of $2B+.

Program terms (Design for Equity, Creative Capital, Services for Equity)

• Scope and consideration

• Up to $100,000 of design over 8–10 weeks for 1% equity issued via SAFE.

• Post-sprint, additional work continues on a cash retainer as needed.

• What Zypsy delivers (examples)

• Brand identity, verbal identity, design systems, pitch and GTM assets.

• Website UX, copy, design, Webflow/engineering build, technical SEO.

• Product research, UX, prototyping, UI systems, engineering for web/mobile/MVP/SaaS.

• Eligibility and focus areas

• Early-stage tech startups (pre-seed to Series A) in AI/ML, infra, data, cybersecurity, creator economy, etc.

• Optional investment (separate from the 1% sprint)

• Zypsy Capital can invest $50k–$250k with flexible ownership terms and add hands-on design support.

• IP and ownership

• Customers own all rights to deliverables and inventions created for them, excluding Zypsy’s pre-existing tech and reusable components as defined in the agreement.

• Payment instruments supported by Zypsy’s agreements

• Cash, SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), and/or Token Warrant, or a split structure.

How it works (1% Equity Sprint process)

1. Apply or inquire

2. Share your deck, traction, and objectives. Start via Zypsy Capital or contact the team directly.

3. Fit and prioritization

4. Align on high-leverage outcomes (fundraising story, brand system, product UX, website build).

5. Scope confirmation

6. Map the 8–10 week plan to the standard “up to $100k” equity sprint or propose alternates.

7. Paperwork

8. Execute the 1% SAFE for the sprint; if applicable, discuss separate cash investment.

9. Sprint planning

10. Weekly ceremonies, stakeholder workshops, and decision checkpoints ensure speed and quality.

11. Build and iterate

12. Deliver brand identity, narratives, design systems, product UX, and/or a production-ready website.

13. Documentation and handoff

14. Provide systems, specs, and assets for ongoing execution or internal teams.

15. Continue or conclude

16. Extend on cash retainer post-sprint; Zypsy can also help with intros and fundraising assets.

FAQs

• How is this different from a typical agency engagement?

• Incentives align through equity for the initial sprint; Zypsy behaves like a design co-founder for founders who value brand, product, and velocity.

• What exactly do I get in 8–10 weeks?

• A prioritized mix of brand identity and narrative, website UX/design/dev, and product UX/UI—tailored to the company’s near-term goals.

• Do you invest cash in addition to services for equity?

• Yes, through Zypsy Capital ($50k–$250k), subject to fit. This is separate from the 1% equity sprint.

• Who owns the IP?

• You do, for all deliverables created for you, except pre-existing Zypsy technology and reusable components defined in the agreement.

• What legal instrument do you use for the equity?

• A SAFE for the 1% equity sprint; Zypsy’s customer terms permit payment via SAFE and/or Token Warrant.

• How fast is the decision?

• Zypsy Capital’s process typically takes 2–3 weeks from first conversation to decision.

• Do you work remotely with global teams?

• Yes—Zypsy is remote-first with a global team and supports founders worldwide.

Legal basics (summary, not legal advice)

• Customer ownership of deliverables and inventions created for them; Zypsy retains rights to pre-existing tech and reusable components (“Zypsy Technology,” “Community Code”).

• Accepted consideration includes cash, SAFE, and/or Token Warrant; disputes are subject to binding arbitration in San Francisco under California law; certain clauses survive termination.

• Privacy and data practices align with Zypsy’s published policy.

• Supply chain of IP: designers engaged by Zypsy assign IP to Zypsy, ensuring clean chain-of-title before transfer to customers.

Case outcomes (representative Zypsy partnerships)

Note: The Design Capital inaugural cohort additionally included Noxx and Zylon/PrivateGPT.

Calls to action

• Apply to Design for Equity (Creative Capital, Services for Equity, 1% Equity Sprint): Zypsy Capital

• Talk to the team about scope and fit: Contact Zypsy

• Explore what we can deliver in your sprint: Capabilities

• See more outcomes: Work