WARSAW, August 2026: EU SCALE (Simple Convertible Agreement for Loan to Equity), the new pan-European investment template designed to streamline early-stage startup financing, has officially been released and is now ready for ecosystem adoption. Developed by the consortium led by FundingBox Accelerator under the European Commission-funded DeepSAFE project, the standardised agreement is accessible to the public in PDF, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.
Streamlining Early-Stage Capital Across Europe
Cross-border early-stage funding in Europe remains severely hindered by 27 distinct legal and tax systems, often incurring up to €15,000 in legal fees for modest €50,000 checks and resulting in months of negotiation delays. Consequently, 42% of European-founded unicorns relocate abroad to access streamlined capital. The DeepSAFE initiative was launched to eliminate this legal friction, accelerate deal-making, and ensure high-growth technology ventures remain anchored in Europe (Dealroom, 2026).
Developed through extensive ecosystem consultations, EU SCALE offers a pragmatic, standardised 5-page convertible loan agreement. Built for speed, legal alignment, and cross-border compatibility, the instrument carries no cash repayment obligation and can be signed within one afternoon.
Immediate Availability in Three Editable Formats
To guarantee seamless adoption, legal customisation, and maximum accessibility across all EU Member States and Ukraine, the agreement template can now be downloaded in three formats:
Ecosystem Feedback Requested
The DEEPSAFE consortium invites startup founders, venture capital investors, business angels, and legal advisors to test the template in real-world scenarios and provide feedback through the dedicated feedback form available on the project website. Insights submitted by stakeholders will directly inform further refinement of the instrument prior to its final pan-European rollout. To download the templates and submit feedback visit: www.eu-scale.com
Legal Notice: This document, the templates, and the accompanying annotations are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. The use of this agreement involves complex legal and tax implications that vary by jurisdiction. Users shall consult with a qualified legal professional and a certified tax advisor to review and tailor this document to their specific circumstances before execution.
About DeepSAFE & EU SCALE:
DeepSAFE is a European Commission-funded initiative aimed at reducing legal and administrative obstacles for European tech startups raising early-stage capital. By establishing EU SCALE – a unified, pan-European Simple Convertible Agreement for Loan to Equity – the project eliminates administrative drag, accelerates investment rounds, and strengthens European competitiveness. The consortium comprises FundingBox (Poland), Accelerace (Denmark), Techosystem (Ukraine), JIC (Czech Republic), and bwcon (Germany).
EU Funding Acknowledgement
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Media Contact:
Magdalena Czerny
magdalena.czerny@fundingbox.com
