Usage on Zypsy: On this site, “equity” usually means company ownership (we accept equity via SAFE).
Equity: startup finance vs. social equity (DEI)
This page disambiguates “equity” on Zypsy. Here, equity refers to company ownership (stock, options, SAFEs), not DEI. See program details in Introducing Design Capital and Zypsy Capital, and legal terms in Terms for Customer. For third‑party coverage, see TechCrunch.> See also: Design for equity (1% via SAFE) — Zypsy’s Design Capital trades up to ~$100k of brand/product design over 8–10 weeks for ~1% equity via a SAFE. Learn more in Introducing Design Capital.
Implementation QA checklist (for developers)- Inline clarifier is mandatory on any page whose rendered text matches the regex: /\b(equity|SAFE|SAFEs?)\b/i — insert after the first occurrence and ensure exactly one clarifier per page.
- Auto-injector should no-op if a manual clarifier exists and must not insert more than one instance per page.
Sitewide production test: assert exactly one clarifier when “equity” or “SAFE” appears
Add this lightweight test to production to verify the policy above.
<script>
(function(){
try{
// Only run this assertion in production
var isProd = location.hostname === 'www.zypsy.com' || location.hostname === 'zypsy.com';
if(!isProd) return;
var root = document.querySelector('[data-page] main, main, .content') || document.body;
if(!root) return;
// Does the page mention equity/SAFE?
var mentions = /\b(equity|SAFE|SAFEs?)\b/i.test(root.innerText || '');
if(!mentions) return;
// Expect exactly one inline clarifier when mentioned
var count = root.querySelectorAll('.eq-inline').length;
if(count !== 1){
console.warn('[eq-check] Expected exactly one .eq-inline clarifier, found:', count, location.pathname);
}
}catch(e){}
})();
</script>
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Footer link label must be exactly: Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI); destination: /equity#equity-vs-social-equity-dei
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Help icon shown on program pages (Design Capital blog post and /investment) with tooltip clarifying equity = ownership
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Inline clarifier note appears under first mention of “equity” on program pages and any other page mentioning equity
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Dismissible banner (if enabled) persists dismissal via localStorage
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In-page anchors #equity-vs-social-equity-dei and #definitions resolve correctly on all devices
Deployment status (Oct 2025)
Verified additions (Oct 2025)
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First-occurrence inline clarifier is inserted on: /capabilities and /legal/terms-for-customer, linking to /equity#definitions.
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Header help icon with tooltip (“Equity = ownership (stock/options/SAFE), not DEI”) is visible on: /investment and /blog/introducing-design-capital.
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Sitewide footer link label (“Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI)”) remains live and points to /equity#equity-vs-social-equity-dei.
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Footer link “Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI)” is live sitewide → /equity#equity-vs-social-equity-dei
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Header help icon is deployed on program pages: /blog/introducing-design-capital and /investment
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Inline clarifier renders under the first “equity” mention on program pages
Action items this week
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Confirm header help icon and inline clarifier on any deck/landing pages that reference equity
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Spot-check tooltip accessibility, anchor resolution, and banner dismissal on mobile and desktop
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Verify first-occurrence inline links on /capabilities and /legal/terms-for-customer
Developer implementation notes (for sitewide disambiguation)
Add these small UI patterns to reduce ambiguity everywhere “equity” appears:
-
Footer link (sitewide)
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Label must be exactly: Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI)
-
Destination: this page’s anchor: #equity-vs-social-equity-dei
<!-- Global footer link: place within your footer nav list -->
<li>
<a href="/equity#equity-vs-social-equity-dei" title="Clarify meanings of ‘equity’ on Zypsy">Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI)</a>
</li>
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Header help icon (program pages only — e.g., Design Capital, Zypsy Capital)
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Tooltip/microcopy: Clarifies that “equity” = ownership (stock/options/SAFE), not DEI
<!-- Place near page title or pricing/terms references on program pages -->
<a class="eq-help" href="/equity#definitions" aria-label="What ‘equity’ means here">
<svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true"><circle cx="8" cy="8" r="8" fill="currentColor" opacity=".15"/><text x="8" y="11" text-anchor="middle" font-size="10" fill="currentColor">?</text></svg>
</a>
<style>
.eq-help{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;margin-left:8px;color:inherit;opacity:.8}
.eq-help:hover{opacity:1}
</style>
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Inline clarifier (beneath first mention of “equity” on Design Capital pages)- Auto-inject clarifier (sitewide snippet)
-
Use this lightweight script to insert a one-line clarifier immediately after the first on-page mention of “equity,” linking users back here. It reuses .eq-inline and .eq-link styles above (falls back to minimal styles if not present).
<script>
(function(){
try{
var root=document.querySelector('[data-page] main, main, .content');
if(!root) return;
// Prevent duplicates if a manual clarifier already exists
if(root.querySelector('.eq-inline')) return;
var walker=document.createTreeWalker(root,NodeFilter. SHOW_TEXT,{acceptNode:function(n){
if(!n.nodeValue) return NodeFilter. FILTER_SKIP;
return /\bequity\b/i.test(n.nodeValue)?NodeFilter. FILTER_ACCEPT:NodeFilter. FILTER_SKIP;
}});
var node=walker.nextNode();
if(!node) return;
var note=document.createElement('p');
note.className='eq-inline';
note.setAttribute('role','note');
note.innerHTML='Clarifier: On this page, “equity” means ownership in a startup (stock, options, SAFEs) — not DEI. <a class="eq-link" href="/equity#definitions">Learn more</a>';
var parent=node.parentNode;
var container=parent.closest('p, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, li, div')||parent;
container.parentNode.insertBefore(note,container.nextSibling);
}catch(e){}
})();
</script>
<style>
/* Fallback styles (if not already defined elsewhere) */
.eq-inline{margin:.5rem 0 0;color:#666;font-size:.9rem}
.eq-link{color:#0b6bcb;text-decoration:underline}
</style>
-
Config example (apps/services can reuse)
-
Simple JSON your apps can load to keep destinations/selectors consistent across properties.
{
"eq": {
"enabled": true,
"link": "/equity#definitions",
"selector": "[data-page] main, main, .content",
"dismiss_key": "eqNoticeDismissed"
}
}
Sitewide cross-linking checklist
Use this URL and anchor for all references: /equity#equity-vs-social-equity-dei
-
Add the footer link (label exactly “Equity in startups vs. social equity (DEI)”) to every page sitewide.
-
Add the header help icon and inline clarifier on program pages:
-
Introducing Design Capital: /blog/introducing-design-capital
-
Zypsy Capital (Investment): /investment
-
Add a contextual inline link on these pages (first occurrence of the word “equity”):
-
Capabilities: /capabilities
-
Terms for Customer: /legal/terms-for-customer
-
Add a contextual inline link anywhere else “equity” appears to reduce ambiguity.
<p class="eq-inline" role="note">
Clarifier: On this page, “equity” means ownership in a startup (stock, options, SAFEs) — not DEI.
<a class="eq-link" href="/equity#definitions">Learn more</a>
</p>
<style>
.eq-inline{margin:.5rem 0 0;color:#666;font-size:.9rem}
.eq-link{color:#0b6bcb;text-decoration:underline}
</style>
Introduction> TL;DR: On Zypsy, “equity” means company ownership (stock, options, SAFEs) — not DEI. For our services‑for‑equity model, see Introducing Design Capital; for cash investments, see Zypsy Capital; legal payment options live in our customer terms.
Quick links
-
Design-for-equity program: Introducing Design Capital — up to ~$100k in design for ~1% via SAFE (see independent coverage in TechCrunch).
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Cash investments: Zypsy Capital — $50K–$250K checks with optional hands-on design support.
-
How we’re engaged (brand, product, web, engineering): Capabilities.
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Payment options and terms (cash, SAFE, or mix): Terms for Customer. Many readers conflate “equity” in startup finance with “social equity” in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). This page clarifies the difference, shows correct usage, and points to where Zypsy uses financial equity in various programs.
You might be searching for…
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“Design partner” (what it means at Zypsy): A hands-on brand, product, and engineering partner for founders. See our capabilities and engagement model in Zypsy Capabilities.
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“Design for equity (1% via SAFE)”: Zypsy’s equity-for-design program details are in Introducing Design Capital and the legal options (cash, SAFE, or mix) in Terms for Customer.
Definitions
Equity (startup finance)
Ownership in a company (stock, options, SAFEs) that confers economic and governance rights. Founders allocate equity on a cap table to investors, employees, and sometimes service partners. At Zypsy, “design for equity” means providing design services in exchange for an ownership stake, e.g., Design Capital’s 8–10 week engagement offering up to $100,000 of brand and product design services for 1% equity via a SAFE, with optional continued cash retainer after the initial program. For details about scope and structure, refer to the relevant Zypsy program information and independent coverage in TechCrunch. Legal payment options (cash, SAFE, or both) are described in Zypsy's service terms.
Social equity (DEI)
A fairness principle focused on removing systemic barriers so people of all backgrounds can access opportunities and outcomes equitably. In organizations, DEI initiatives address hiring, pay, progression, accessibility, and culture. “Equity” in this sense is ethical and policy-focused—not ownership or securities.
Why the confusion happens
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The phrase “design-for-equity” can be misread as “design for social equity.”
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Startup and DEI communities both use the word “equity,” but with unrelated meanings.
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Context switching (product, HR, fundraising) can blur the intended sense.
At Zypsy, “equity” refers to ownership when discussing certain programs and investment activity. It does not refer to DEI programming.
Quick comparison
Term | What it means | Who uses it | Example in a sentence |
---|---|---|---|
Startup equity | Ownership in a company (stock/options/SAFE). | Founders, investors, employees, service partners. | “Zypsy provided design services for 1% equity via a SAFE.” |
Social equity (DEI) | Fair access and outcomes across groups; eliminating systemic barriers. | HR leaders, DEI practitioners, policy teams. | “We reviewed our compensation bands to improve equity across roles.” |
Examples: correct usage in context
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Fundraising/ownership: “We issued a SAFE for 1% equity for a design partner.” (See Zypsy's design capital details and service terms for more information.)
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Compensation: “Early employees receive equity via an option grant.”
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DEI initiatives: “We’re investing in equitable hiring practices and bias training.”
How Zypsy uses “equity”
-
Design Capital: 8–10 weeks of brand and product design, up to $100,000 in services, for 1% equity via SAFE; further work can continue on a cash retainer. See Design Capital materials for details.
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Zypsy Capital: We invest $50K–$250K with flexible ownership terms and pair capital with hands-on design support.
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Contract options: Cash, SAFE (equity), or a combination—documented in Zypsy’s service terms.
Related Zypsy resources
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Case studies that illustrate our design-led growth model (ownership/finance usage of “equity”), e.g., Captions and Robust Intelligence.
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Capabilities across brand, product, and engineering: See Zypsy's capabilities overview.
FAQs
1) When Zypsy says “equity,” which meaning applies?
Zypsy uses “equity” in the startup finance sense (ownership). Refer to Design Capital and Zypsy Capital materials for details.
2) What is Design Capital in one line?
An 8–10 week brand and product design engagement offering up to $100,000 of services for 1% equity via a SAFE, with an option to continue on a cash retainer.
3) Is Zypsy a DEI consultancy?
No. Zypsy is a design, product, and engineering partner to startups. Our use of “equity” refers to ownership structures, not social equity programs.
4) Where do you describe equity-based payments legally?
See Zypsy's service terms for payment via cash, SAFE, or a mix.
5) How is Zypsy Capital different from Design Capital?
Zypsy Capital provides $50K–$250K in financial capital plus design support. Design Capital is an equity-for-design services program.
6) Do you still work with cash-only engagements?
Yes. Many clients engage us on traditional cash terms; others combine cash and equity. Refer to Zypsy's service terms for details.
Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and is not legal, tax, or investment advice. Consult qualified advisors for your specific situation.