Sessions · Advisor session
SAFEs vs. Priced Rounds: What Every Founder Needs to Know Before Their Series A
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 · 12–1 PM PDT
This session has ended.
About this session
You raised on a SAFE. It felt fast, simple, and founder-friendly. But what happens when the Series A term sheet lands and the math doesn't look the way you expected?
In this session, we'll dig into the real-world tradeoffs between SAFEs and priced rounds — and the structuring decisions at the seed stage that can cost or save you millions down the road.
We'll cover:
- How liquidation preferences can quietly shift the economics against you at Series A
- Why uncapped SAFEs often lead to more founder dilution than expected
- How to structure your early rounds to protect your equity before it's too late
Come with your questions. This is a small-group, interactive session. Not a lecture.
Hosting this session
Daniel Neuman
Shareholder, Attorney, Carney Law
Danny Neuman is a corporate and securities attorney who works closely with startups, emerging companies, and venture capital funds. He advises clients on a range of business and legal issues that often arise during the different stages of a company’s lifecycle. This includes helping founders and entrepreneurs with choosing the right business entity, navigating securities law and regulatory compliance, establishing strong corporate governance structures, and developing strategies to protect intellectual property. Danny also guides clients through mergers and acquisitions and serves as outside counsel on day-to-day legal and operational matters.Negotiating early-stage financings is one of Danny’s core strengths. He brings deep experience in guiding companies through capital raises from angels, venture capital funds, and strategic investors. With a strong understanding of commercial and intellectual property law, Danny frequently drafts and negotiates complex agreements, particularly those involving data privacy and technology licensing.
Founders, startup teams, investors and executives often turn to hm for direct, hands-on legal support. His clients span a range of industries, from software, e-commerce and virtual and augmented reality to life sciences, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and hospitality. Known for his practical, business-oriented approach, Danny helps innovative companies manage risk, scale effectively and adapt to rapid change.
Before joining Carney, Danny worked at a boutique corporate and securities law firm in Tucson, Arizona, served in-house at a large aviation company, and completed a general counsel internship with a major defense contractor. A native of Seattle, he brings a strong regional perspective to his practice and remains deeply connected to the Pacific Northwest’s entrepreneurial and investment communities.
Next step
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For companies that have raised at least $1M from venture firms.