cyberRaise: On‑Chain Fundraising Revolutionized

cyberRaise is MetaLeX Labs’ compliant, early‑stage fundraising dApp designed to transform how startups and investors engage in venture financing. Built atop the cyberCORPS operating system and the cyberDeals smart contract stack, cyberRaise makes the fundraising process fully transparent, programmable, and secure by leveraging blockchain technology. It empowers founders and investors to complete investment rounds without reliance on intermediaries or cumbersome paperwork, streamlining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Advanced modules like LeXcheX for onchain investor accreditation and LeXscroW for automated escrow ensure that all deal conditions are met before capital moves, eliminating counterparty risk.

The cyberRaise interface allows founders to choose from various deal types – classic SAFEs, SAFTs, SAFTEs, and hybrid SAFE + Token Warrant deals – under different regulatory exemptions (Reg D for U.S. offerings and Reg S for international offerings). Each option comes with standardized terms, enabling compliant fundraising in just a few clicks. (In brief: SAFE for future equity, SAFT for future tokens, SAFTE combining equity and token rights, and SAFE + Token Warrant bundling an equity SAFE with a token option side letter, as explained below.)

For a deeper look at round lifecycle and permissions, see the Round Manager.

Key Smart Contracts and Modules

A number of smart contracts and modules underlie cyberRaise’s onchain functionality, each handling a critical piece of the fundraising workflow: * RoundManager: Coordinates multi-investor fundraising rounds. Founders call createRound to set parameters (series type, raise cap, min/max ticket, round type, payment token, price per unit, valuation, terms and template ID). The RoundManager deploys CyberCertPrinter contracts via the IssuanceManager for each security to be issued, stores the round parameters, and emits a RoundCreated event. It supports two round types – first‑come‑first‑served (FCFS) and founder‑approved – and manages expressions of interest (EOI), allocation, closing, and conversion of certificates when a qualifying event occurs.

DealManager: The onchain deal orchestrator that coordinates each raise from inception to completion. It manages deal proposal creation, tracks signatures from the parties, and triggers finalization in a secure, auditable manner – moving a deal through all stages (proposed → signed → paid → finalized) according to its rules. DealManager remains available for bespoke single-counterparty agreements, while RoundManager handles multi-investor rounds.
CyberAgreementRegistry: A transparent registry of standardized and attorney-vetted legal agreement templates. Each template is identified by a unique templateId (e.g. SAFE, SAFT, SAFTE, etc.), and every executed deal instantiates a new agreement instance with its own agreementId. This ties each onchain deal to a specific legal document (retrievable via an IPFS URI or hash of the contract text) while maintaining an immutable record of all executed agreements. The registry also keeps track of which parties have signed and whether an agreement is fully signed, voided, or finalized. It includes a built-in delegation system (described later) that allows one address to sign on behalf of another under certain conditions.
IssuanceManager: Handles the compliant issuance of tokenized securities. When createRound is called, the RoundManager uses the IssuanceManager to deploy CyberCertPrinter contracts (ERC-721 NFT contracts) for each security type, and during allocation it mints non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that serve as digital security certificates representing instruments such as SAFEs, SAFTs, token warrants, or SAFTEs. These NFTs carry the key terms of the deal in their metadata and evidence the investor’s rights. They are initially non-transferable to comply with securities law, and the IssuanceManager allows the company to later toggle transferability or void the NFT if needed.
LeXscroWLite: A lightweight escrow smart contract that securely holds assets during the deal process. The RoundManager relies on it to escrow investor funds and the company’s securities for each EOI, releasing assets only when predefined conditions (signatures, accreditation checks, deadlines, custom conditions) are satisfied. This guarantees an atomic swap: the startup’s NFT securities move to the investor only if the investor’s payment is received, and vice versa. If a round allocation expires or is voided, LeXscroWLite can refund funds and return certificates to unwind the transaction safely.
LeXcheX: Automates investor compliance by integrating onchain accreditation checks. LeXcheX is an NFT-based accreditation system: an investor completes a one-time KYC/verification process (offchain) and is issued a soul-bound NFT certificate attesting to their accredited status. The cyberRaise platform can then verify an investor’s eligibility in a single contract call. For instance, before accepting an investor’s EOI, the RoundManager invokes a LexChexCondition that checks the investor’s address against the LeXcheX contract to confirm they hold a valid accreditation NFT. This fulfills requirements like SEC Rule 506(c) (verification of accredited investor status for public fundraising in the U.S.) without traditional paperwork. The accreditation NFT cannot be transferred and can carry an expiration date or metadata about the verification method, providing a robust onchain record of compliance.
TokenWarrantExtension: An extension module enabling hybrid deals that attach future token rights to equity raises. It supports structures like SAFE + Token Warrant deals, where an equity agreement (SAFE) is bundled with an option for the investor to receive tokens in the future. During createRound, the RoundManager deploys separate certificate printers for the SAFE and the warrant so that allocation mints the corresponding NFTs together. The TokenWarrantExtension handles additional parameters such as token warrant coverage, exercise price, and token release schedule. For example, it can enforce that if an investor wishes to exercise the warrant later to claim tokens, they must pay a predefined exercise price (which can be per token or a nominal amount) – whereas in a SAFTE (see below), the token rights come without an extra payment.
ICondition: A flexible interface for plugging in bespoke compliance modules. Beyond standard checks (like accreditation and signatures), cyberRaise allows founders to attach custom smart contract conditions to each EOI. These could include additional KYC/AML verifications, time-based vesting or lock-up requirements, minimum or maximum raise thresholds, or essentially any boolean condition that can be codified in a smart contract. The RoundManager supports adding or removing such conditions, and during allocation it calls each condition’s checkCondition function to ensure it returns true. This modular approach means cyberRaise can accommodate project-specific covenants and evolving regulatory requirements without altering its core logic.

Streamlined Onchain Fundraising Process

cyberRaise supports two transaction models. The DealManager powers bespoke single-counterparty deals, while the RoundManager coordinates multi-investor fundraising rounds.

DealManager Flow (single-investor deals)

With cyberRaise, the entire fundraising transaction is handled onchain in a few seamless steps. Founders and investors interact through a user-friendly interface (or directly with the smart contracts), and once terms are agreed and all conditions are met, funds and tokens are exchanged atomically. The process can be summarized as follows:

Proposing a Deal: The founder initiates a bespoke raise via the intuitive cyberRaise dashboard, or by calling the DealManager contract directly. They select a standardized agreement template (e.g. choosing between a SAFE, SAFT, SAFTE, etc.) and input the deal parameters specific to that raise. These parameters include things like the valuation cap or discount, the token allocation or network valuation, whether a token warrant is attached, and any conversion terms or special conditions. Once the terms are set, the founder cryptographically signs the proposal using their Web3 wallet (via an EIP‑712 signature) and sends it onchain to the DealManager, which records a new pending deal with a unique deal ID. An investor counterparty may be specified or left open, and the deal includes an expiration time and optional custom condition contracts.
Escrow Setup: As soon as a deal is proposed, the platform automatically sets up the onchain escrow and initial security issuance for that deal. The DealManager works with LeXscroWLite to create an escrow entry tied to the agreement ID, and invokes the IssuanceManager to mint the NFT securities representing the investment instrument(s). For example, if the deal is a SAFE or a SAFTE, an NFT certificate for the convertible instrument is created. If a token warrant is part of the deal, a second NFT representing the warrant is also minted. These NFTs are deposited into escrow to “lock in” the company’s promise onchain, awaiting the investor’s response. The legal agreement text is accessible via the CyberAgreementRegistry so the investor can review the full contract before signing, and the founder can share a unique deal link or ID with the prospective investor to complete the transaction.
Investor Countersigning & Funding: The investor reviews the deal terms and, if they accept, calls signDealAndPay to countersign and transfer funds in one transaction. DealManager verifies the investor’s signature, checks that any attached conditions (like LexChexCondition for accreditation or other ICondition modules) return true, and ensures the deal has not expired. Only the designated investor can countersign if an address was specified; otherwise the first investor to sign becomes the counterparty. Upon success, the investor’s funds are escrowed and their signature is logged in the CyberAgreementRegistry alongside the founder’s, marking the agreement as fully signed.
Finalizing the Deal: When all conditions are satisfied, anyone can call the finalization function. DealManager releases funds to the company’s payable address, delivers the NFT certificates to the investor, and marks the agreement finalized. The escrow performs the atomic swap—capital for securities—ensuring neither party can default. If conditions aren’t met or the deadline expires, the escrow unwinds and refunds the investor, voiding the certificates and leaving an onchain record of the voided deal.

RoundManager Flow (multi-investor rounds)

Round creation: The founder uses the cyberRaise dashboard to start a raise, selecting the round type, series, and ticket sizes. They set parameters (series type, raise cap, min/max ticket, round type, payment token, price per unit, valuation, terms and template ID) and call createRound. The RoundManager deploys one or more CyberCertPrinter contracts via the IssuanceManager for each security to be issued, stores the parameters in the Round struct, and emits a RoundCreated event.
Expressions of Interest (EOI): Investors join the round by calling submitEOI with their desired amount. The RoundManager checks the round’s status, uses CyberAgreementRegistry to create an agreement instance, sets up escrow via LeXscroWLite, and attaches any per‑EOI conditions (e.g. LexChexCondition) to enforce compliance.
Allocation & funding: For FCFS rounds, allocation happens automatically when an EOI is submitted. For FounderApproved rounds, the founder reviews EOIs and calls allocate on those they accept. During allocation the system signs the agreement, computes units, mints certificates through IssuanceManager, attaches endorsements, refunds any surplus funds, finalizes the escrow, and updates the amount raised. Allocation mints non‑transferable NFT certificates representing securities (e.g., SAFE tokens, SAFT tokens, or hybrid instruments), demonstrating how capital flows and securities issuance are automated in CorpFi.
Closing & conversion: A round closes when the raise cap is met or the end time passes, preventing new EOIs. For convertible instruments (SAFE, SAFT, SAFTE), the RoundManager provides functions to convert certificates into equity or tokens when a qualifying event such as a priced equity round or token generation event occurs. Conversions call IssuanceManager to mint new equity shares to SAFE holders or distribute tokens to SAFT holders, using valuation caps and discounts encoded in the certificates.

RoundManager is the recommended path for multi-investor raises, while DealManager remains available for bespoke single-counterparty agreements.

Round Types and Compliance Modules

RoundType values determine how EOIs are handled:

FCFS: allocations occur automatically on a first‑come basis.
FounderApproved: the company reviews each EOI and explicitly allocates.

RoundingPolicy handles the rounding of fractional units when converting amounts into securities.

Compliance modules are attached per EOI. LeXcheX accreditation checks, LexChexCondition, and other ICondition modules can restrict participation based on jurisdictional or project-specific requirements.

Compliance & Transfer Restrictions

After certificates are minted, their transferability is controlled by onchain hooks:

WhitelistTransferHook requires both sender and receiver to be approved before a certificate can move.
ToggleTransferHook allows the company to toggle transferability globally or for a specific certificate ID.

These hooks, combined with modules like LeXcheX, ensure that securities cannot be transferred to non‑qualified buyers even after the raise, keeping CorpFi operations compliant.

Hybrid Instruments and Conversions

Each instrument in a round corresponds to a distinct certificate printer created during createRound, and certificates are minted upon allocation. For example, a SAFE + Token Warrant round causes the RoundManager to create two printers so allocation mints two NFTs – one for the SAFE and another for the warrant. SAFT certificates convert to tokens when the network launches, while SAFTEs or token warrants can convert to both equity and tokens via the RoundManager’s conversion function. This demonstrates how capital flows and securities issuance are automated in CorpFi.

Delegated Signing Authority: cyberRaise also provides flexibility for real-world corporate workflows through a delegation feature. In many startups, the person who controls the funds (e.g. a multi-signature corporate wallet) may not be the one actually executing documents day-to-day. To accommodate this, cyberRaise allows a founder or authorized company officer to delegate signing authority to another EVM address onchain. In practice, one wallet (for example, the founder’s personal wallet) can be authorized to propose and sign deals on behalf of another address (for example, the company’s official treasury wallet or a multi-sig). This means a company can keep its funds and issued securities in a secure custody account, while a delegate (with a separate key) handles the interactions and approvals on cyberRaise. The delegation is established by an onchain setting in the CyberAgreementRegistry – essentially, the company’s address appoints a delegate address and an optional expiry time for that delegation. Once in place, whenever the delegate signs an agreement, the platform recognizes it as if the company itself signed (the signature verification logic checks the delegation mapping to validate this). Only the specific delegate designated (and only within the time window, if an expiry was set) can act for the delegator, ensuring security. This feature streamlines the process for teams using multi-sig treasuries or hardware vaults: the founder can initiate and close deals with their own key, while funds flow in and out of the multi-sig as intended and the NFTs are ultimately held by the multi-sig or corporate entity. In short, founders can confidently conduct raises through their convenient hot wallet or executive account, while still having the final assets (investor funds and security NFTs) end up in the proper company-controlled wallets. The onchain audit trail will show that the company was the party to the agreement, with the delegate’s signature approved via the delegation mechanism, preserving legal clarity about who the actual issuer and counterparty are.

Benefits of an Onchain Deal Flow

By turning the entire fundraising pipeline into code, cyberRaise delivers significant advantages over traditional methods:

Speed and Efficiency: Deals that might take weeks or months to coordinate can now close in minutes once terms are agreed. Execution is automatic upon conditions being met – no waiting for wire transfers, coordinating schedules for signings, or couriering documents for signatures. This rapid closing means startups can secure funding faster and start deploying capital immediately. Observers note that MetaLeX’s approach “streamlines startup fundraising by automating the SAFE process onchain, reducing legal fees” – time saved is money saved.
Cost Reduction: The automation of legal agreements and elimination of third-party intermediaries (like escrow agents or excessive legal oversight) cuts down on transaction friction and expenses. Founders spend far less on attorney hours and administrative costs, since the smart contracts enforce the terms automatically. Standardized onchain templates mean that in many cases, bespoke document drafting is minimized, further reducing legal overhead.
Trust Minimization: All participants can trust the code rather than each other. The rules of the deal are enforced by smart contracts, removing the need to rely on a counterparty’s promise. Funds aren’t released until conditions are verified onchain, and signatures are cryptographically secured and validated. Investors gain confidence that their money will only be released if they indeed receive the agreed-upon securities, and founders are assured that investor funds are locked in escrow once the deal is signed. This cryptographic certainty eliminates the risk of either party backing out after the other has performed, effectively neutralizing counterparty risk.
Transparency and Immutable Records: Every action in a cyberRaise deal – proposal creation, each party’s signature with timestamp, fund deposits, and final distributions – is recorded on the blockchain. This provides an immutable audit trail for regulators, auditors, or future investors. Anyone can independently verify what happened, when it happened, and the exact terms of the deal (since the template ID and key parameters are onchain in the CyberAgreementRegistry). The cap table updates in real-time onchain: an investor’s rights are evidenced by an NFT in their wallet, and that record cannot be tampered with or hidden. This level of transparency and certainty is unprecedented in traditional fundraising, where much is done on faith and paper. With cyberRaise, disputes over “who owns what” or whether funds were sent are virtually eliminated by the public ledger.
Global Accessibility with Built-In Compliance: Because deals are conducted via Web3 wallets and smart contracts, cyberRaise opens up participation to global investors (with the necessary compliance checks baked in). Projects can broadly solicit interest (even via Twitter or community forums) and let the platform handle accreditation checks and regional restrictions. Modules like LeXcheX make it possible to publicly advertise a raise under Rule 506(c) and still restrict actual investment to verified accredited investors in the U.S., while also accommodating non-U.S. investors under Reg S. This expands the pool of capital for startups without sacrificing legal compliance, since the smart contracts rigorously enforce the rules on who can invest and automatically include the proper legend and transfer restrictions on the issued securities. A founder in Singapore could raise from investors in the U.S. and Europe seamlessly on the same platform, with each investor’s credentials verified onchain and the appropriate legal framework (Reg D, Reg S, etc.) automatically applied based on template selection.
Innovative Deal Possibilities: The composable nature of cyberRaise’s contracts means new financing structures can be created or combined easily. Founders are not limited to vanilla SAFE terms – they can offer creative deal sweeteners like token warrants, revenue-sharing conditions, tiered conversions, or other novel mechanisms, and trust the platform to handle the complexity. For instance, cyberRaise supports SAFTEs (which give investors equity plus token rights) and other hybrids that align with Web3 projects’ unique needs. Because these features are modular, MetaLeX can introduce new templates or extensions (for example, for convertible notes, revenue loans, or NFT-based crowdfunding agreements) that plug into the same DealManager and escrow framework. All of this is accomplished in one unified workflow that keeps things simple for users despite the sophisticated outcomes. This flexibility to tailor deals, combined with automation, is paving the way for venture financing that is both innovative and compliant by design.

In sum, cyberRaise transforms fundraising into a faster, safer, and more transparent endeavor. Founders benefit from quick, automated deal execution and reduced overhead, while investors gain reassurance through built-in compliance checks and cryptographic security. The days of shuffling PDFs, coordinating endless emails, and relying on trust are replaced by smart contracts and NFTs that encapsulate the deal. Ultimately, cyberRaise doesn’t just make fundraising simpler — it makes it fundamentally more programmatic and secure. It paves the way for a future where startups can raise capital as easily as sending a transaction, with every legal and financial requirement handled by code. This is venture financing reimagined for the blockchain era, turning the vision of fully onchain startups (or cyberCORPs) into a reality today.

Sources: The details above are grounded in the cyberRaise app and codebase – notably the MetaLeX Tech cybercorps-contracts repository (which implements the DealManager, CyberAgreementRegistry, LeXcheX, etc.) and the live cyberRaise interface. The platform’s supported deal types and compliance features are backed by the smart contracts (see SecurityClass enums for SAFE, SAFT, SAFTE, etc., and condition checks for accreditation), ensuring that this launch is fully supported by onchain functionality and not just aspirational marketing.