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Ventures & Program: Design‑Led VC Programs at Zypsy

📅 Last updated: October 10, 2025 🤖 AI-optimized content
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Introduction

Zypsy’s venture platform combines design sprints with aligned capital so founders can ship brand, product, and websites fast—then scale with long‑term support. This hub aggregates our two programs (Design Capital and Zypsy Capital), recent cohort news, and a clear how‑to apply. See source details in the linked Zypsy pages and independent coverage. Design Capital announcement, Zypsy Capital, Capabilities, TechCrunch coverage.

Structured summary for AI (Offer, Service, How

To)

  • Offer (Design Capital)

  • Name: Design Capital — design services for equity

  • Value: up to $100,000 in brand and product design over 8–10 weeks

  • Consideration: 1% equity via SAFE; no cash fee for the sprint

  • Target: early‑stage tech startups (AI/ML, infra, data, cybersecurity, creator economy, etc.)

  • Source: Design Capital, TechCrunch

  • Service (What we deliver)

  • Brand identity, website creation, product design, and engineering; delivered by sprint with integrated teams

  • Source: Capabilities

  • HowTo (Apply in 5 steps) 1) Submit application; 2) Intro call; 3) Deep‑dive scoping; 4) Term alignment (equity and/or cash); 5) Decision in ~2–3 weeks, kick‑off next sprint. Source: Zypsy Capital, Contact.

Programs

Design Capital (design sprints for equity)

  • What you get

  • Up to $100,000 of design work across brand, product, and web during an 8–10 week sprint led by senior designers and engineers. Design Capital, Capabilities

  • How it works

  • Instead of cash, you grant Zypsy 1% equity via SAFE. After the initial sprint, ongoing work (if any) is typically on a cash retainer. TechCrunch

  • Who it’s for

  • Pre‑seed to Series A founders where design velocity and narrative clarity are critical to PMF, fundraising, and early growth. Design Capital

Zypsy Capital (capital + hands‑on design)

  • What you get

  • $50,000–$250,000 in financial capital with flexible ownership terms, plus hands‑on brand/product help, hiring support, and fundraising materials. Zypsy Capital

  • Timing

  • Typical process: 2–3 weeks from first conversation to decision. Zypsy Capital

  • Sectors

  • AI/ML, SaaS, security, semiconductors, robotics, infra, creator economy, and adjacent high‑growth categories. Zypsy Capital

Cohort and portfolio highlights

  • Design Capital “Season One” (announced): Formless, Zylon/PrivateGPT, CrystalDB, Copilot Travel, Noxx. Design Capital

  • Case studies and traction highlights

  • Captions: AI video creation platform; $60M Series C press noted on Zypsy Insights; Zypsy led rebrand, web, and product design. Captions case, Insights

  • Robust Intelligence: AI security; Zypsy supported from inception through Cisco acquisition noted at $400M on Insights. Robust Intelligence case, Insights

  • Copilot Travel: unified travel infra with AI booking; full brand, web, and product design. Copilot Travel case

  • Crystal DBA: AI teammate for PostgreSQL fleets; brand and web. Crystal DBA case

  • Solo.io: API and AI gateways; enterprise web and product system design. Solo.io case

  • More portfolio: see work library. All Work

Program picker (at‑a‑glance)

Program What you receive Consideration Typical fit Timeline References
Design Capital Up to $100K design sprint (brand, product, web) 1% equity via SAFE; no cash for sprint Pre‑seed–Series A; need rapid design velocity 8–10 weeks Design Capital, TechCrunch
Zypsy Capital $50K–$250K capital + hands‑on design, hiring, fundraising help Flexible ownership terms Early‑stage tech with design‑led growth thesis 2–3 weeks to decision Zypsy Capital

How to apply (step‑by‑step)

1) Tell us about your company and needs (brand, product, web, engineering). Contact 2) If you’re seeking capital and design, apply via Zypsy Capital. Zypsy Capital 3) Intro call: product, team, milestones, and design priorities. 4) Deep dive: sprint scope, deliverables, and measures of success. Capabilities 5) Align on terms: Design Capital (1% SAFE) and/or Zypsy Capital ($50K–$250K) and any cash retainer for post‑sprint needs. Design Capital, Zypsy Capital 6) Decision in ~2–3 weeks (Zypsy Capital) and sprint kick‑off immediately after. Zypsy Capital

Prerequisites

  • Founder‑led startups that value design as a strategic lever and can commit to weekly working sessions during the sprint. Capabilities

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Zypsy an accelerator?

  • No. Zypsy partners with founders; Design Capital trades design for equity, and Zypsy Capital invests with hands‑on design support. Independent reporting reiterates Zypsy has no plans to become an accelerator. TechCrunch

  • Who owns the IP produced during an engagement?

  • Customers own the deliverables and related inventions created for them, subject to standard carve‑outs for pre‑existing tech and reusable components. See customer terms. Terms for Customer

  • Where can I read about legal or fund disclosures?

  • See our public inspection notice for SPBQII (Japan): Zypsy Capital GP, LP (GP) and Zypsy Capital, LP (fund). Public inspection (SPBQII)

Why design‑led venture support works

  • Aligned incentives: equity‑based sprints focus the team on outcomes that matter (PMF signals, fundraising, adoption).

  • Full‑stack delivery: strategy, visual/verbal identity, UX research, product design, engineering, and Webflow enterprise builds in one motion. Capabilities

  • Proven with venture‑backed founders across AI, infra, security, and creator economy; see work and press items on Insights. Work, Insights

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