Top Deal Structures
These are the three Deal structures you'll see most often on PersoniFi. Each one represents a different way to invest in a person — not just their current company.
For the full list of every Deal structure and term, see the Deal Structures Reference.
Quick Comparison
| Deal Structure | What You Get | Returns Come From | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAFE+plus | Equity in current + future companies | Company exits | Higher risk, higher upside |
| SAFEguard | Equity + income share (always active) | Company exits + monthly income share | Balanced — blended returns |
| SAFEguard Flex | Equity + income share (activates if venture fails) | Company exits + fallback income share | Lower risk — built-in insurance |
SAFE+plus
Think of this as buying shares in a founder, not just their startup.
This is a pure equity deal. You get ownership rights in the founder's current company (if they have one) and any future companies they start within the agreement period.
What you're investing in
- Equity in their current company — a SAFE that converts to ownership at the agreed valuation
- Equity in future companies — automatic ownership in any company this person founds within the next ten years
The future equity kicks in when a company is founded, not when it exits. You'll be on the cap table of any company created within the time limit, and you stay on that cap table even after the agreement period ends.
Valuations can differ between the current company and future companies.
When this deal makes sense
You believe this person will build something big — maybe not today, but eventually. You're making a venture-style bet on the person's potential across multiple ventures.
When to pass
If you don't believe this person will exit a company someday, this deal won't return your investment. There's no income share or fallback — your returns depend entirely on equity events.
SAFEguard
Think of this as the hybrid — equity upside with cash flow built in.
This deal blends equity and income sharing. You get ownership in the founder's companies plus a percentage of their income once it exceeds a threshold.
What you're investing in
- Equity — SAFE in their current company and future companies started within 10 years
- Income share — once their salary exceeds $100k, they share a percentage with you monthly until 1x your investment is returned
- Equity clawback (founder perk) — every income share payment lets the founder buy back a small amount of equity, incentivizing them to keep paying. At maximum, you'll never retain less than 50% of the equity you started with
- Future fundraise incentive (optional) — if the founder raises $2M+ in institutional financing, the income share stops
How it works in practice
You invest and immediately get equity exposure. Once the founder earns above $100k/year, they begin sharing a percentage of their income with you monthly. This continues until you've received 1x your investment back in cash. Meanwhile, you still hold equity — so if a company exits, you benefit from both the cash you've received and the equity upside.
The equity clawback means founders are motivated to make payments because each one reduces their dilution. It's a win-win mechanism.
When this deal makes sense
You want balanced exposure — equity upside if the venture succeeds, plus cash flow that starts returning your investment regardless. This is the most popular structure because it protects you on the downside while keeping the upside open.
When to pass
If you don't believe this person can earn $100k/year within ten years. If they never hit the salary floor, they'd never make an income share payment, and you'd be left holding only the equity.
SAFEguard Flex
Think of this as equity with downside insurance.
This is startup equity with a safety net. You get a SAFE in the founder's venture, and if the startup fails or the founder leaves, an income share agreement activates to return your capital.
What you're investing in
- Equity — SAFE in their current venture
- Conditional income share — only activates if the venture fails or the founder is no longer running it. Once active, they share a percentage of their income (when salary exceeds $100k) until 1x your investment is returned
The income share is not a loan or debt. Think of it like a flexible, income-based safety net that only kicks in when things don't go as planned.
How it works in practice
As long as the founder is running their venture, you hold equity and wait for the upside. If the venture fails and they return to a different job earning $100k+, they begin sharing 10% of their income with you monthly until 1x is returned. The time cap is ten years — if they go ten years without earning $100k, the agreement expires.
When this deal makes sense
You believe in the venture and want equity upside, but you also want protection if things don't work out. The conditional income share means you're not left with nothing if the startup fails.
When to pass
If you don't believe this person could earn $100k in a non-founder role. The safety net only works if they're capable of earning above the threshold.
How to Evaluate Any Deal
When you're looking at a Deal on PersoniFi, ask yourself:
- Do I believe in this person's ability to earn? Every Deal ultimately depends on the person's earning potential — through company exits, income, or both
- How much downside protection do I want? SAFE+plus has none, SAFEguard Flex has conditional protection, SAFEguard has always-active protection
- What's my time horizon? These are long-term investments — equity rights and income agreements typically span 10 years
- Am I comfortable with the salary threshold? Income-based components only activate above $100k/year
Related Resources
- Deal Structures Reference — every Deal structure, every term, in full detail
- Choosing Your Deal Structure — decision trees and comparisons for users creating Deals
- Glossary — definitions for every term used on the platform