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Introducing SAFE to European deep tech industry

Project description

Financial instrument and legal framework for start-up investments

The green transition and the push for innovation across various sectors have led to the emergence of many new start-ups powered by deep-tech solutions. However, despite the growing need for innovation, support is insufficient and the financial infrastructure available is not adequate for effective investments in these novel start-ups, resulting in limited or infrequent funding. The EU-funded DEEPSAFE project aims to adapt the USA-based simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) financial instrument to fit the cultural, financial, and policy landscapes of Europe. This adaptation will reduce bureaucracy and streamline investment transactions. The project will deliver a validated DEEPSAFE legal framework, along with training and tools, to stakeholders within the European start-up ecosystem.

Objective

A SAFE, a Simple Agreement for Future Equity is a financial instrument which has been developed by Y Combinator, one visible accelerator in the US more than 10 years ago. Currently, in the US and in Canada more than 80 % of the investments in startups are realized as SAFE investments. In Europe, this financial instrument is not as widely diffused. The reasons for developing the SAFEs lie among others in a higher transaction speed and a lower level of bureaucracy in all periods of the investment lifecycle. Both mentioned reasons might also toughen up the European financial ecosystem. Since such an instrument can not be transferred in a “blind copy mode” into another cultural ecosystem with different policies and mentalities, the objective of DEEPSAFE is to design, validate , disseminate and finally establish an Europeanized instantiation of core SAFE building and deliver it into the European startup ecosystem (40 startups from emerging/moderate regions negotiating SAFE agreements with investors/corporates). As outcome, DEEPSAFE will be providing a validated DEEPSAFE legal framework tailored to EC law, a DEEPSAFE curriculum used for training all stakeholders, a DEEPSAFE White Paper, DEEPSAFE cross-border use cases and best practices for dissemination and awareness creation in order to increase the competitiveness of our startup Ecosystem in Europe.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-01

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Coordinator

FUNDINGBOX ACCELERATOR SP ZOO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 350 125,00
Address
UL POSTEPU 15
02-676 WARSZAWA
Poland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Makroregion województwo mazowieckie Warszawski stołeczny Miasto Warszawa
Activity type
Other
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 463 000,00

Participants (5)

Partners (1)

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