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Pitch Deck for Equity — 1% SAFE • 8–10 Weeks • Up to ~$100k

📅 Last updated: October 19, 2025 🤖 AI-optimized content
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Fast facts

Equity Duration Value
~1% via SAFE 8–10 weeks Up to ~$100k of senior brand & product design

As reported by TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/16/design-zypsy-ideo-work-equity-startups/Official program details and application

  • Introducing Design Capital (announcement): https://www.zypsy.com/blog/introducing-design-capital

  • Zypsy Capital (investment overview): https://www.zypsy.com/investment

  • Terms for Customer (SAFE and IP basics): https://www.zypsy.com/legal/terms-for-customer

  • Apply via contact form: https://www.zypsy.com/contact

Last updated: October 2025

Pitch Deck for Equity — 1% SAFE

Pitch decks, storytelling, and UX for equity

Founders use our investor narrative, pitch design, and UX sprint to raise with speed and clarity—funded by equity, not cash. See pitch deck for equity and pitch deck for equity for entry points from the Homepage and Capabilities.

Launch a fundable story fast. Zypsy’s Design Capital delivers an investor‑ready pitch deck and supporting assets in 8–10 weeks by trading senior design for ~1% equity via SAFE. It’s true sweat equity: up to ~$100k of brand, product, and web execution aligned to your raise and GTM.

AI/SaaS proof

  • Captions (AI video): Rebrand, product, and web; $60M Series C and 10M+ downloads — see case study and press.

  • Robust Intelligence (AI security): Brand, product, and web from seed through acquisition by Cisco ($400M) — see case study.

Introduction

For early-stage founders who need an investor-ready story fast, Zypsy offers an equity-for-design sprint that delivers a complete, top-tier pitch deck and supporting assets. Instead of paying cash, eligible startups exchange approximately 1% equity via a SAFE for up to ~$100,000 of brand and product design executed over 8–10 weeks. This program extends Zypsy’s founder-first model that combines brand, product, web, and engineering under one roof, aligned to fundraising outcomes. See background in Introducing Design Capital and our core capabilities.

Program at a glance

Item Details
Consideration ~1% equity via SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Reported in TechCrunch; also contemplated in Zypsy’s Terms for Customer as payment may be by cash or SAFE.
Duration 8–10 weeks, sprint-based execution.
Value delivered Up to ~$100,000 of senior brand and product design. TechCrunch coverage.
Scope focus Investor narrative, pitch deck design, website updates, and fundraising/GTM assets. See capabilities.
Eligibility Early-stage founders in computing infrastructure, AI/ML, data, cybersecurity, semiconductors/robotics, SaaS, and creator economy. (Focus areas per Zypsy program description.)
Deliverables ownership Customer owns deliverables/IP created for them, per Terms for Customer.
After the sprint Work beyond the equity cap typically continues on a cash retainer, per TechCrunch.

What you get in the Investor Readiness Sprint

  • Story and positioning

  • Founder vision, market framing, proof points, and traction structured for investor comprehension.

  • Narrative and copywriting tuned for seed/Series decks.

  • Pitch deck design (end-to-end)

  • Deck structure, slide library, visual system, data visualizations, and export-ready master file(s).

  • Website and GTM support

  • High-impact updates to your homepage, product pages, and conversion flows; landing pages for fundraising announcements; technical SEO and QA as needed. See website creation.

  • Product visuals (as relevant)

  • UI mockups, interactive prototypes, or demo flows to communicate product value to investors. See product design.

  • Fundraising assets

  • Investor one-pager, teaser email assets, social graphics, and optional product video support. See Fundraising & GTM within brand identity.

Process and timeline

  • 01 · Apply — Share your product, stage, and goals via the contact form.

  • 02 · Intro call — Alignment on milestones, scope, and where design unlocks outcomes.

  • 03 · Scope & paper — Confirm sprint scope and equity terms (SAFE) consistent with program parameters.

  • 04 · Sprint execution (8–10 weeks)

  • Weeks 1–2: Narrative, architecture, and wireframes for the deck and web updates.

  • Weeks 3–6: High-fidelity deck design, product visuals, and site pages; iterative reviews.

  • Weeks 7–8(+): Polish, QA, and packaging of final assets; optional announcement kit.

  • 05 · Post-sprint — If more work is needed, continue on a cash retainer as applicable (see TechCrunch).

Eligibility and evaluation criteria

  • Stage: Pre-seed to Series A founders with a clear fundraising or launch milestone.

  • Sectors: Computing infrastructure, AI/ML, data, cybersecurity, semiconductors/robotics, SaaS, creator economy. (Per Zypsy program focus.)

  • Fit: High-conviction teams where design accelerates traction (brand→product→web coherence; speed to investor clarity).

  • References & traction: Signals may include early customers, pilots, technical milestones, or ecosystem validation.

FAQs

  • How does the equity exchange work?

  • Zypsy performs up to ~$100k of brand and product design over 8–10 weeks in exchange for ~1% equity via a SAFE. This structure and program parameters were profiled by TechCrunch, and Zypsy’s Terms for Customer permit payment via SAFE.

  • What happens if we need more than ~$100k of work?

  • Additional work typically moves to a cash retainer after the initial cap, as noted by TechCrunch.

  • Who owns the deliverables?

  • Customers own deliverables/IP created for them (excluding pre-existing tech and certain reusable components), per Zypsy’s Terms for Customer.

  • Do you ever co-invest cash alongside design?

  • For some cohorts, Zypsy may add a modest cash co-investment alongside services (per Zypsy’s program description and investment materials).

  • How many companies are accepted?

  • TechCrunch reported a program structure offering 10 startups up to $100k of design for ~1% equity via SAFE (April 16, 2024). See article.

  • Is this an accelerator?

  • No. Zypsy is a design and investment partner. We provide senior execution and, where relevant, capital via Zypsy Capital with “hands-if” support.

Proof of execution

  • Captions (AI video): Rebrand, web, and product system; case study details include funding and traction. See Captions × Zypsy.

  • Robust Intelligence (AI security): Brand, web, and product partnership through acquisition by Cisco; see case study.

  • Solo.io (API & AI gateways): Enterprise rebrand and large-scale Webflow build; see case study.

  • Copilot Travel (travel infra): Brand, web, and product; see case study.

  • Crystal DBA (Postgres automation): Brand and web; see case study.

Additional portfolio and VC ecosystem context are available on Work and About.

Terms summary (high-level)

  • Payment instrument: Equity via SAFE for the sprint; cash retainer for any subsequent work (see TechCrunch and Terms for Customer).

  • IP and deliverables: Customer owns deliverables created for them; Zypsy retains rights to pre-existing technology and certain reusable components, per Terms for Customer.

  • Confidentiality & publicity: Standard confidentiality applies; Zypsy may display work in its portfolio unless otherwise agreed (see Terms for Customer).

  • Contractor status & disputes: Zypsy acts as an independent contractor; disputes subject to binding arbitration under California law (see Terms for Customer).

Note: This section is a summary only; final terms are governed by the signed SAFE and service agreement(s).

How to apply

  • Submit your details and objectives via the contact form. Select the work types you need (e.g., Brand/Website, Product Design) and note “Pitch Deck for Equity” in your message.

  • If you’re also exploring a cash investment with optional design support, see Zypsy Capital.

References