Safe Notes - Asset backed opportunities
Invest with Confidence: Safe Notes & Asset-Backed Strategies
How secure investments and tangible assets are shaping a smarter financial future.
Executive Summary
The early-stage venture market is cooling. Pre-seed funding has now declined for three straight quarters – a clear signal that capital is getting more selective. But while the volume drops, valuation caps are ticking upward and SAFE dilution remains rational.
For Jasmine Blue investors: This is not a red flag. It’s a spotlight. When others pull back, we move forward – focused, disciplined, and ready to fund high-quality, asset-backed ventures with global potential.
What’s Happening?
1. Pre-Seed Funding Is Down
Q1 2025 saw a 20% drop in pre-seed funding vs. Q4 2024. Just $737 million was raised across all SAFEs and convertible notes. That’s the third consecutive quarterly decline.
Interpretation:
Investors are becoming more selective. Capital is no longer cheap. The party’s over for pitch decks with no substance.
2. The South Is Rising
Of the top 20 metro areas for pre-seed cash raised, six are in the U.S. South: Austin, Dallas, Houston, D.C., Atlanta, and Miami. This region pulled in 18% of all pre-seed capital over the past two years.
Why it matters:
Capital is following operational efficiency, founder migration, and lower burn rates. It’s no longer about Silicon Valley — it’s about where value is being created.
3. SAFE Valuations Are Climbing
For SAFE rounds >$500K, valuation caps increased in Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024. Despite the funding slowdown, founders with traction are still commanding solid terms.
Investor note:
The good deals are still pricey – but worth it. Quality over quantity is the new mantra.
4. Convertible Note Rates Stabilized
Median interest rates on convertible notes held steady at 7%, slightly down from 8% in Q2 2024.
What this means:
The cost of early-stage capital is normalizing. No boom, no bust – just a return to rational pricing structures.
Why It Matters for Investors
This data shows a market that’s waking up from its sugar high. Funding is no longer spread like peanut butter across every pitch deck. Instead, it’s going toward:
Teams with traction
Markets with momentum
Structures that protect investors
At Jasmine Blue Group, we don’t chase unicorns. We build them around real value, starting with hard assets and profitable verticals – like aviation, infrastructure, and tech-enabled platforms.
What’s Next?
Expect continued pressure on pre-seed activity. But also expect stronger deal quality, clearer terms, and tighter investor-founder alignment.
We see this as a perfect moment for disciplined capital. Those who can move without the herd will own tomorrow’s icons.
Why partner with Jasmine Blue?
Because we invest where others hesitate – and we do it with clarity, conviction, and a jet engine behind our back.
