Get fundraising-ready before you pay for full legal prep.
Ready2Raise makes flat-fee, do-it-yourself kits with checklists, plain-English guides, and templates. Find the gaps in your company paperwork while they’re cheap to fix, then walk into attorney review organized.
Not legal services. Ready2Raise provides educational materials and templates, not legal services. Using these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship. Have a licensed attorney review your documents before you sign or raise.
- SAFEs
- 83(b) elections
- IP assignments
- Cap tables
- Board approvals
- Data rooms
Three steps from scattered files to an organized handoff
Paperwork gaps like missing board approvals, unsigned IP assignments, and missed 83(b) elections tend to surface during investor diligence, when they’re hardest to fix. Start earlier.
Score yourself, free
The Pre-Seed Readiness Checklist walks you through 20 checks investors and their lawyers look at. Score each one 2, 1, or 0 to see where you stand.
Work through the gaps with Kit 1
Plain-English guides, self-audits, and templates help you gather records, understand your SAFE terms, and model dilution over about two to three focused weeks.
Hand off to a licensed attorney
Fill in the Attorney Handoff Pack and share it with your data room, so your attorney review starts with an organized file instead of a document hunt.
Are you actually ready to raise? 20 checks to find out.
The free Ready2Raise Pre-Seed Readiness Checklist covers five areas:
- Company foundations
- Ownership & equity
- Intellectual property
- Raising the right way
- Story, numbers & data room
Score it in one sitting. Your total out of 40 points to one of three results:
Get the free checklist
Not legal services. Ready2Raise provides educational materials and templates, not legal services. Using these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship. Have a licensed attorney review your documents before you sign or raise.
The Pre-Seed / SAFE Readiness Kit
Eleven guides and templates plus a cap table spreadsheet, written in plain English for founders preparing a pre-seed SAFE round.
Document 00: Start Here
Get oriented and plan a focused two-to-three-week sprint.
Document 01: Fundraising Readiness Checklist
Work through every area investors look at, item by item.
Document 02: Corporate Records & Approvals Audit
Confirm your core Delaware records exist and are signed.
Document 03: IP Ownership Audit
Check that the company, not individuals, owns the product.
Document 04: SAFE Explainer
Understand caps, discounts, MFN, pro rata, and how a SAFE converts.
Document 05: 83(b) Election Guide
Check that founders filed on time and kept proof.
Document 06: Securities Basics for Founders
Learn the basic rules for who you can raise from and how.
Document 07: Sample Board Consent (SAFE Financing)
See what a board approval for a SAFE round can look like.
Document 08: Data Room Index
Set up a clean folder structure investors can navigate.
Document 09: Investor Update Template
Keep investors informed once the money comes in.
Document 10: Attorney Handoff Pack
Summarize everything and flag open issues for your attorney.
Cap Table & SAFE Conversion Model
See who owns what today and after post-money SAFEs convert.
Every template includes [brackets] to fill in and notes to read, and is meant to be reviewed by a licensed attorney before anyone signs. Kit 1 links to Y Combinator’s free, official SAFE forms rather than including copies. The spreadsheet models post-money SAFEs only.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
Ready2Raise is for you if…
- You run a pre-seed startup, usually a Delaware corporation, and plan to raise on SAFEs from angels or early funds.
- Your documents are scattered across email, e-signature tools, and a formation service, and you want them in one place.
- You want to understand caps, discounts, dilution, and 83(b) elections before your first investor meeting.
- You want your paid attorney time spent on judgment calls, not document hunting.
It’s not for you if…
- You’re looking for legal advice, document review, or someone to represent you. Ready2Raise doesn’t provide those.
- You need documents drafted or negotiated for your specific deal.
- You’re raising a priced equity round. Kit 1 focuses on SAFEs.
- You’re facing a dispute, an investor demand, or a deadline that may already have passed. Talk to a licensed attorney now.
Short, plain-English lessons
A few slides from our posts on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Same voice as the kits: clear, practical, and honest about when you need an attorney.
The free readiness checklist 
How the 2-1-0 scoring works 
SAFE basics 
The 83(b) 30-day deadline
Questions founders ask
Is this legal advice?
No. Ready2Raise provides educational materials and templates, not legal services or legal advice. Nothing on this site, in our emails, or in our kits is tailored to your company, and using them does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Do I still need a lawyer?
Yes. Have a licensed attorney review your documents before you sign anything, accept money, or raise. Kit 1 is built to help you arrive at that review organized, with your records gathered and your questions written down, so the time you pay for can go to the judgment calls.
How much will Kit 1 cost, and when can I get it?
Kit 1 is launching in January 2027. It will be a one-time flat fee, and pricing will be announced at launch. People on the waitlist hear first.
What’s in the free checklist?
20 checks across five areas: company foundations, ownership and equity, intellectual property, raising the right way, and story, numbers and data room. You score each item 2, 1, or 0, and your total out of 40 shows whether you’re Ready, Almost, or Not yet. It’s a two-page PDF.
Who is Kit 1 written for?
Pre-seed founders of Delaware corporations who are raising, or about to raise, on SAFEs. If your company is an LLC or formed in another state, the concepts may still help, but some records and deadlines will be different. Ask a licensed attorney about your situation.
Does Kit 1 include Y Combinator’s SAFE?
No. Kit 1 explains how SAFEs work and links to the official forms, which Y Combinator publishes for free at ycombinator.com/documents (opens in a new tab). We don’t copy or resell anyone else’s forms.
What format are the files?
Editable Word documents (.docx) with PDF previews, plus an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) for the cap table and SAFE conversion model. The templates include [brackets] to fill in and notes to read before anything is signed.
Will Ready2Raise review my documents or answer questions about my company?
No. Ready2Raise doesn’t review documents, give advice about your company, or represent anyone. For questions about your specific situation, please work with a licensed attorney.
How current is the information?
Kit 1 facts and figures were checked against official sources, including the SEC, the IRS, and the Delaware Division of Corporations, in November 2026. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with your attorney.
Be first to hear when Kit 1 opens in January 2027.
Join the waitlist and we’ll email you when the Pre-Seed / SAFE Readiness Kit is available, along with its flat-fee price.
Not legal services. Ready2Raise provides educational materials and templates, not legal services. Using these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship. Have a licensed attorney review your documents before you sign or raise.