A Polish founder, fresh out of Y Combinator, received multiple competing offers from top-tier investors in Europe and Silicon Valley. The stakes were high: speed, valuation, and long-term control. We structured and negotiated a non-standard deal that closed in just 7 days — preserving founder control while maximizing upside.
Industry
Startup / tech
Stage
Early-stage / post-Y Combinator
Geography
Poland → Silicon Valley
How it works
Challenge
After Y Combinator, the founder entered a high-pressure fundraising environment with multiple offers from both European and US investors. While the capital was available, standard venture structures would have required giving up significant control and long-term decision-making power. At the same time, the timeline was extremely compressed — moving too slowly risked losing momentum and investor interest. The founder also lacked experience navigating complex Silicon Valley deal dynamics and needed to balance speed, valuation, and control simultaneously.
01
What was at stake
founder control vs. investor rights
valuation and deal structure
speed of closing post-YC
long-term strategic independence
02
Key pain points
pressure to close quickly after Demo Day
multiple competing offers with different structures
lack of standard “playbook” for non-standard deals
risk of losing control through pro-rata and governance terms
How it works
Solution
We designed and executed a highly non-standard fundraising structure that aligned with the founder’s ambition to retain control. By combining multiple instruments and negotiating directly with investors, we secured capital without sacrificing governance. The entire process — from structuring to close — was completed in just 7 days.
How it works
Our approach
Book an appointment
01
Diagnose
review of incoming offers (EU + US investors)
identification of control risks (pro-rata, governance, structure)
definition of founder priorities: control, speed, valuation
02
Design the structure
creation of a hybrid deal structure (equity + SAFE elements)
implementation of Class A / Class B share structure
strategy to limit investor control while keeping deal attractive
03
Negotiate & close
negotiation with multiple investors simultaneously
alignment of terms across different investor groups
rapid execution and closing within 7 days
who we help
What we delivered
01
Dual share-class structure (A/B)
Goal: ensure founder retains decision-making control
02
Limited investor rights (incl. pro-rata removal)
Goal: prevent future dilution of control
03
Hybrid round structure
Goal: combine flexibility with strong valuation
04
Founder-first governance setup
Goal: enable fast execution without investor friction
05
Multi-layer round (equity + SAFE)
Goal: include additional investors without breaking structure
How it works
Result
The founder raised $30M at a $120M post-money valuation while retaining full control of the company. The round closed in just 7 days, allowing the founder to immediately shift focus back to building and scaling. The final structure provided both capital and strategic independence — a rare combination in early-stage venture deals.
How it works
Result
$30M raised
Largest round at YC Demo Day (client cohort)
7 days to close
From structuring to signed deal