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Hi John,

This week's newsletter features an overview of Dropbox for Startups, a new way for startup founders to access the essential tools they can use to grow and scale their company. We also share the latest startup fundraising trends amidst these market downturns, a detailed look at what SAFE notes are and how to use them, and a customer story of using Dropbox and DocSend to create magical client experiences.

Introducing Dropbox for Startups

Dropbox is announcing Dropbox for Startups, a program designed to empower founders with the tools they need to accomplish more with less.

Recent years have caused a dramatic shift in the way we live. As more and more people depart from traditional jobs to pursue their passions full-time, the startup landscape has become increasingly competitive.

From developing a standout product, to financial constraints and securing funding, the obstacles startups face can seem endless. Founders entering the exciting and challenging world of fundraising need access to tools that save time, money, and help them navigate the fundraising process from end to end. That’s why Dropbox is announcing Dropbox for Startups, a program designed to empower founders with the tools they need to accomplish more with less.

Eligible startups can now enjoy access to discounts across the suite of Dropbox products: Dropbox, DocSend, and HelloSign. Founders can choose any or all three to set themselves up for fundraising success, all the way from sending their first pitch deck to signed investor agreements.

Founders associated with any investor, accelerator, or startup community that participates in the DocSend Partner Program will now be eligible for Dropbox for Startups. The DocSend Partner Program is a network of more than 700 VCs, accelerators, and banks that offer industry insights, DocSend discounts, and access to the DocSend Fundraising Network to their startups. Any U.S.-based startups that aren’t currently associated with anyone in the program can refer their VC or accelerator to join.

Securely store, share, track, and sign sensitive documents

Dropbox provides a consolidated workspace for convenient, secure file storage. Organize all your important files in one place so you can easily access anything from pitch decks to investor agreements, as soon as you need them. Dropbox makes it easy to work through investor agreements with built-in commenting, ensuring viewers can collaborate seamlessly.

DocSend offers real-time document analytics for insights into stakeholder activity and investor interest. DocSend users get x-ray vision into who opened their files, how long they spent reading them, and what content was the most impactful. And they can use that data to optimize their pitch and prioritize VC leads for follow-up. Use DocSend’s virtual data rooms to easily share multiple documents with a single link, and passcode-protect sensitive files for an added layer of control.

HelloSign enables seamless agreement workflows with fast, secure, and intuitive eSignatures for contract signing. When a managing partner wants to invest, electronically request signatures with built-in reminders, notifications, and real-time validations. Keep private information safe with NDAs and legally binding signatures.

Explore additional startup resources from the Dropbox product portfolio:

• DocSend’s Startup Fundraising Playbook, complete with pitch deck templates and data-driven insights into the latest fundraising trends and how to succeed.
• Free, personalized pitch deck review through the DocSend Fundraising Network.
• Ready-to-sign templates (including legal agreements, tax forms, and HR paperwork) from HelloSign to save you time by automating your busiest work.
• Dropbox’s tips for growing your small business, full of strategies to expand into new markets and channels.

Pitch Deck Interest Metrics Update

After a quick post-holiday jump, the fundraising marketplace mostly held steady last week. VC activity fell 3.83%, founder activity dropped by 0.94%, and VC time spent is down 3.85%.

Here's the full analysis of last week's activity.

Recommended Reads

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From pitch decks to signing SAFE notes, Flow Networks uses DocSend as its full-circle fundraising platform