Decoding Startup Investment: SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes & Priced Rounds

Decoding Startup Investment: SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes & Priced Rounds

Decoding Startup Investment: SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes & Priced Rounds

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Understanding how to invest in startups requires more than just writing a cheque. Cheryl and Maxine break down the legal structures behind startup investing, covering SAFE notes, convertible notes, and priced rounds. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode unpacks the key terms, investor-friendly vs. founder-friendly clauses, and the risks involved. They discuss the evolution of SAFEs, why they've become the dominant structure in early-stage funding, and the critical differences between pre-money and post-money SAFEs. Plus, they explore the role of pro-rata rights, most favoured nation (MFN) clauses, and side letters—so you don’t get caught off guard in your next deal. If you’ve ever wondered how to protect your equity position, when to push back on certain terms, or what legal documents you’ll actually be signing, this episode is your investor cheat sheet.

Chapters

00:00 – Why startup investment structures matter

01:45 – SAFE notes, convertible notes, and priced rounds explained

03:47 – How founders raise money: equity vs. debt

06:21 – The documents you’ll sign in a priced round

10:22 – Do startups need a constitution? Red flags to watch for

14:29 – Side letters: What are they, and should you be worried?

19:08 – Pro-rata rights & why they matter for investors

22:23 – Most Favored Nation (MFN) clauses explained

30:27 – Pre-money vs. post-money SAFEs: Which one is better?

38:03 – Why valuation caps and discounts can be a double-edged sword

43:53 – Investor-friendly vs. founder-friendly terms: What’s fair?

Resources

- A Deep Dive into ECIS, ESVCLP, and Investment Strategies - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Agiu4dskF53m6DBZgXitD?si=KFeAlY_wTjSwOWfRMiiQFA
- Angel Academy – The most comprehensive angel investing course for Australia & NZ: www.venture.academy
- Aussie Angels – Cheryl’s platform for angel investing https://www.aussieangels.com/
- Co-Ventures – Maxine’s venture capital firm https://www.coventures.vc/

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Join 755 other founders & investors receiving our emails. They're cool, are you? :)

* Regrettably, mel@canva.com is not on our list… yet.

Day One® is a registered trademark of W2D1 Media Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. © 2026 W2D1 Media Pty Ltd.