What You'll Learn

Most early-stage startup investors share a similar goal: to acquire a slice of equity in the next Facebook and ride out their investment until enormous profits flow their way. Investors can acquire equity in early-stage startups through various investment structures, or securities.

In this guide, we will explore securities that investors typically use to fund early-stage startups, including equity investments, convertible notes, and SAFEs, when each is used, and how they impact investor returns.

Who Should Read This

If you're looking for an easy-to-understand guide to startup investing that breaks different securities into real-life scenarios, you've come to the right place. We'll walk you through the different ways startup investors acquire equity in startups and the specifics behind commonly used securities, like convertible notes and SAFEs, and how each one impacts investor returns.