A Startup Attorney Reviews First-Round Dilution and Control

A Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) generally provides a right to future shares upon specified events. It is not common stock and ordinarily confers no current shareholder voting rights. A priced financing, acquisition, or dissolution may have different consequences. Those consequences depend on the signed SAFE investment agreement.

A convertible note creates debt that may convert into shares. Interest, maturity, financing thresholds, and pricing terms can change the share count. The note may define qualified financing by a minimum dollar amount, so a smaller round might not trigger conversion. Otherwise, repayment, extension, or another contractual outcome may follow.

A valuation cap sets a ceiling for a conversion calculation, not necessarily the company's current value. A discount may lower the price paid per share; the contract controls which provision applies. Under a standard post-money valuation-cap SAFE, investment divided by the cap can estimate ownership before a priced round, subject to the instrument's definitions. Multiple SAFEs with different valuation caps can also change the founders' total dilution. New financing and option pool expansion may dilute the resulting position further.

Compare issued shares, outstanding options, available option capacity, SAFEs, and notes. Show both current ownership and fully diluted ownership under stated conversion assumptions. A conversion schedule should identify each trigger, pricing method, and projected share count. Accrued note interest may also become shares. The convertible note provisions should match the calculations shown in the financing cap table.

If a priced round includes a larger pool in pre-money capitalization, founders may bear more dilution than if the increase occurs after pricing. Compare both versions with the same investment amount and stated valuation. The share price and final ownership may differ even if the term sheet uses the same headline valuation. SAFE-specific capitalization definitions also matter.

Assume founders own eight million issued shares, an investor receives two million new shares, and the company reserves one million more for options. This illustration fixes share counts; it does not model SAFE conversion or valuation negotiations.

The last column uses 11 million shares on a fully diluted basis. Reserved options are not issued voting shares; actual pricing may differ. If the pool grows again before the next investment, run an updated fully diluted model instead of relying on the closing percentages.

For corporations governed by California Corporations Code § 300(a), the board generally directs corporate affairs, subject to statutory and charter limitations. Protective provisions may require investor approval for borrowing, issuing shares, or selling the company. A veto is distinct from an ordinary board vote and may require approval from a particular class of shareholders. Compare the charter and voting documents with shareholder agreements, rather than assume majority share ownership settles each decision.

Liquidation preferences may place preferred investors ahead of common holders in specified distributions. Anti-dilution clauses may change conversion prices after qualifying down rounds. Contractual pro rata rights to invest in future rounds differ from statutory preemptive rights; California Corporations Code § 204(a)(2) addresses the latter when expressly granted in the articles. Consequently, ownership percentages do not alone determine sale proceeds.

A founder agreement or stock purchase agreement may include vesting, repurchase rights, transfer restrictions, and voting commitments. Compare those provisions with the stock ledger, board approvals, and option records. Determine whether financing requires amendments or additional consents. Repurchase restrictions can affect a founder's long-term position even when the shares are currently outstanding.

Reconcile final investment documents, the charter, voting arrangements, and cap table. Later preferred-stock financing raises additional issues addressed in the Series A financing overview. Under federal law, securities offerings must be registered or qualify for an exemption; state notice and antifraud rules may also apply. Internal governance generally follows the state of incorporation, subject to applicable exceptions. A startup attorney can review discrepancies before closing.