KISS or Keep It Simple Security Convertible Note

Before KISS, Let’s Consider SAFE!

The KISS convertible note concept was introduced in 2014 and is based on SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). Before looking at what KISS is, let’s understand a little more about SAFE.

Startups can use SAFE as a financing contract to raise capital during the first rounds of seed funding.

As a financial instrument SAFE is often seen as being a more founder-friendly alternative to traditional convertible notes. The basic premise of SAFE is a contract between a company (in this case a startup) and an investor.

This Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) gives the investor rights to obtain a company’s equity and is based on specific trigger events. Examples are any future equity financing that would normally be led by VCs (Venture Capitalists). It is known as Next Equity Financing or Qualified Financing.

SAFE investor holders receive a conversion to shares which is given at a much lower price when compared to the securities’ actual price. The conversion is based on one of 2 things, either a discount rate or a valuation cap.

On top of this, any VC investing in the startup during the next equity financing round receives their equity share at the FMV (Fair Market Value) of said share allocation at that time. 

While the SAFE method is still in place, using the KISS convertible note as an alternative is now well established.

What is Keep It Simple Security (KISS)?

The KISS convertible note contains many similarities to SAFE convertible notes. However, its main purpose is to shorten the settlement process by allowing startups to secure finance within a short time and at a low cost. By achieving this they are avoiding the long negotiation process necessary during investor grant agreement discussions.

Created by 500Startups, a global VC company with a network of startup programs for founders, mentors, and investors based in San Francisco, the KISS note template is a convertible note which is concise and to the point. It is an open-source document that was drafted after long discussions with many law firms and early-stage investors in Silicon Valley.

Flexibility without being over-customizable is the key to the KISS convertible note. In essence, it is simple but includes all necessary features to achieve balance both from the investor’s and the startup’s viewpoint.

What are the Basic Concepts of KISS?

A KISS is seen as being very similar to the classic model of a convertible note. It is designed to accrue interest at x% and comes with an approximately 18-month maturity date. After that period an investor can convert their underlying investment amount and the interest received into a newly created series of the company’s preferred stock.

Another significant difference from SAFE is that the KISS convertible note comes with an MFN (Most Favored Nation) clause. The MFN clause is an important part of the KISS agreement. This is because those KISS investors who generally invest in early-stage startups are taking big risks that the startup will actually get off the ground and grow to be successful.

The clause allows investors to get better future securities if they are issued by the startup. In short, it offers investors downside protection should the startup go through a “down round” or offer more favorable terms to any future investors.

KISS Conversion

When the startup raises equity financing of at least $1 million the KISS converts. It is an automatic conversion to preferred stock and takes place once the startup raises a qualifying priced round. It should be noted that the discount or the valuation cap needs to be negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis.

The mentioned 18-month maturity date can also offer investor protection because if at least $1 million of equity financing has not been achieved by the maturity date, the KISS holder has the option of easily electing to convert at the valuation cap which is set by the majority vote.

Company sale before equity conversion and other rights

If a sale of the startup goes through before equity conversion the investor has a choice. They can get 2X (double) their total investment back or convert at the valuation cap.

Other important rights are given to most investors with major investors receiving additional rights. Major investors are classed as those who agree to invest at least $50,000.

In terms of these rights, the majority of investors get access to such things as financial information rights and 1x participation rights for any future fundraising rounds. Investors also have the ease of KISS convertible note transfer to any other party at any time. As for major investors, they also have additional defined rights in the startup’s next funding round.

KISS convertible note clauses

We will shortly get into the 2 types of KISS available but before that, founders need to understand what the major KISS convertible note clauses are. This makes a recap worthy of understanding. The clauses included are:

• Minimum financing round: $1 million or more.
• Interest rate: 5%.
• Maturity / Expiration date: 18 months.
• Capital / Discount: Negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis.
• Conversion at: At least a $1 million rise in an equity financing round.
• Exit premium: Convert 2X.
• Transfer rights: Transfer to anyone at any time.
• MFN: Most Favored Nation clause.