Design firm Zypsy will do $100,000 worth of work for 1% equity for early-stage startupsZypsy, a design firm with a track record of helping early-stage startups, has launched a new and somewhat unique venture investment program.
Instead startups will pay by issuing Zypsy 1% equity of their companies via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity).
Zypsy has already added five startups to the first cohort of the design capital program (alphabetical order):Pilot projects with over 25 startups for three yearsThe six-year-old design company has worked with more than 25 startups.
“They are ‘cash-based clients, not an ‘equity-based portfolios’ like five companies we mentioned in the first design capital program,” he said.
In 2023, Zypsy raised $3 million to establish Design Capital.
Check out the complete roundtable lineup at TC Early Stage 2024Among the highlights of Early Stage are its fan-favorite roundtable sessions.
These intimate gatherings, guided by experts, delve into targeted subjects crafted to enlighten, invigorate, and enhance your entrepreneurial endeavors.
Moreover, they serve as prime opportunities to forge connections with like-minded individuals.
Take a look at the complete roundtable roster for this year’s event featuring top VCs and founder leaders.
And don’t forget to buy your tickets now before prices go up at the door.
TechCrunch is searching for 200 trailblazing startups to feature in the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October.
Apply NowShowcasing global innovatorsFrom the Startup Battlefield 200, we’ll handpick 20 companies for the Startup Battlefield competition.
The only way early-stage, pre-series A startups can exhibit on the show floor at Disrupt is through Startup Battlefield, and the only way to become a Startup Battlefield finalist is to be selected for Startup Battlefield 200.
How to Join TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200The process is straightforward.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024?
Climate-tech VC Satgana has reached a final close of its first fund, which targets to back up to 30 early-stage startups in Africa and Europe.
“I ran it for like five years, and about six years ago I started to really have the awakening to the extent of climate change.
“We are entering the continent to pursue green growth objectives; so deploying renewable energy, low carbon buildings, mobility solutions and so on.
Satgana is among the new funds that are dedicated to the African climate tech sector.
These funds include Africa People + Planet Fund by Novastar Ventures, Equator’s fund and the Catalyst Fund.
All VC firms have also grown increasingly focused on making early-stage investments in India in recent years and finding the next Flipkart at the seed stage.
Accel has been trying to find the right fit for its early-stage accelerator program for nearly half a decade now.
SkoobSkoob is a generative AI platform which is revolutionizing the way readers interact with books.
More than 800 startups applied to be in Atoms 3.0, and about 300-400 applicants were AI startups.
Swaroop said nearly two-thirds of all pitches focused on AI startups that sought to solve HR and marketing problems.
Raising capital sounds simple: You hand over shares, investors hand over cash, and everyone then gets back to work.
She’s coming to TechCrunch’s Early Stage event next month on April 25 to not only present on early-stage fundraising topics, but also to answer your questions.
Early Stage is one of our most popular events, so don’t delay — I’ll see you in April, pen in hand, listening to Whiting.
Early Stage 2024 prices go up March 31.
Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024?
TechCrunch is on the hunt for 200 early-stage founders to feature in the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October.
Back in 2022, the Startup Battlefield expanded to include a showcase of the top 200 companies from across the globe.
Apply NowShowcasing global foundersFrom the Startup Battlefield 200, we will select 20 companies for the Startup Battlefield competition.
The only way early-stage startups can exhibit on the show floor at Disrupt is through Startup Battlefield, and the only way to be a Startup Battlefield Finalist is to be selected for Startup Battlefield 200.
How to become a part of TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200The process is simple.
This new impediment to securing financing opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs is disconcerting.
Confronted with these challenges, angel investors and investment groups that fund BIPOC entrepreneurs must remain committed to keeping vital early-stage capital flowing.
This inherent color blindness removes a structural impediment that blocks minority investing within the conventional venture capital fund structure.
Eleven percent of all campaigns on the platform Honeycomb have been run by Black founders, and SeedInvest has seen 12% of campaigns run by Black founders.
Defining intentionally inclusive criteria in your fund/syndicate may also open the door to additional funding opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
New fundsWe started the year with news of a couple new venture funds that will be writing checks into fintech startups.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ruth at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022 and was impressed with her knowledge and insights around venture capital.
Back in October, I reported on this after speaking with Synapse, which operates a platform enabling banks and fintech companies to easily develop financial services, and Evolve.
— Mary AnnMeanwhile, Mary Ann looked back at the biggest fintech hits and misses of 2023.
Among the fintech companies were Braid, Daylight and ZestMoney.
Exponent Founders Capital, an early-stage venture firm founded by alumni of startups such as Plaid, Robinhood and Ramp, has closed on $75 million in capital commitments, TechCrunch is the first to report.
The firm, which is emerging from stealth today, raised $50 million for its first fund in November of 2021.
Managing Partners Charley Ma and Mahdi Raza co-founded Exponent after meeting while Ma was leading fintech growth at Plaid, and Raza was leading growth and payments at Robinhood.
Exponent, which focuses on enterprise SaaS, fintech, infrastructure and GTM (go to market) software companies, invested in about 40 startups out of its first fund.
He worked in growth and payments at Robinhood before joining Stytch to lead early growth there.
