10-month pre-pilot window for recruitment and lean execution: validate demand, build the pilot tech stack, sign 50 LOIs with anchor schools, and surface real commercial metrics before the $20M Seed close. Pre-Seed budget is capped at $60,000 (₹54.0L at ₹90/USD) per Executive §8.3 (map + 10-mo run-rate + proof COGS). Zero paid-media spend.
The $60,000 Pre-Seed phase uses a 10-month pre-pilot calendar for recruitment and run-rate, per §8.3. It aims for a functional MVP, 50 school LOIs (June 2027), and unit-economics proof. Line-item budget: Executive Report §8.3. The Pre-Seed SAFE (separate from Seed) converts at $2M post-money cap with 20% discount. Minimum executable raise for this scope: full $60,000.
Pvt. Ltd. registration (DPIIT-eligible for FEMA FDI compliance), GSTIN, trademark application for "TUA" and logo, basic IP structure. Founder vendor agreements. Business bank account opened.
Activate founder's 50+ school principal relationships in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 1-on-1 consultative meetings to document pain points, current vendor names, pricing, and permission for LOI. Target: 8–10 school meetings documented. Zero paid marketing.
Travel to Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) and Bangalore (Karnataka) — the two primary uniform manufacturing hubs. Meet 5–8 manufacturers. Obtain samples; negotiate pilot pricing (800 units, 4 designs). Shortlist 2 manufacturers. ₹40 lakh (USD ~$44.4K) in committed purchase intent from 5 schools validates MOQ feasibility. Align fabric standards with CBSE/state-board guidelines.
Mystery shopping across 15 schools in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune to document cartel vendor names, prices, quality complaints, and delivery fail rates. Used as pitch ammunition in school BD conversations and in regulatory filings if needed.
Freelance dev team (fractional CTO oversight): React.js / Next.js front-end, Node.js backend, PostgreSQL database on AWS Free Tier for MVP. Parent app: size selection, order tracking, payment (Razorpay UPI integration). School admin dashboard: demand aggregation, status, download size-curve reports. Basic DPDPA-compliant data collection. Deployed M5 for demo.
Present school admin demo, product samples, and pricing sheet. Target: 50 signed Letters of Intent (non-binding, but formal) from schools across 2 states (Karnataka + Tamil Nadu). Letters confirm intent to trial TUA for the forthcoming academic year order cycle. Each LOI documents: enrollment count, current vendor, approximate annual spend, and contact authorisation.
Professional B2B brand identity: TUA logo, brand standards manual, school deck (PDF + web), investor deck update for Seed round. LinkedIn Company page activation. School-facing B2B website (static landing page). Zero performance marketing spend. Zero social media ads.
Place sample order with shortlisted manufacturer for 1 pilot school (~250 students). Cover advance manufacturing deposit from bootstrap capital + school advance payment. On-time delivery tracked meticulously. Defect rate target: <1%. Collect parent feedback via WhatsApp and in-platform ratings. Generate TUA's first commercial case study — the most valuable Seed pitch asset.
Document SOPs for: size survey data collection, manufacturing tolerances, QC at warehouse, B2B palletized delivery logistics (3PL via Gati/VRL/Safexpress for school-gate delivery). Build school onboarding playbook (used by future BD reps). Vendor contract templates drafted by legal counsel. Initiate BG facility exploration with HDFC/ICICI (₹2 Lakhs setup). All processes ready for Seed-funded scale.
Compile complete pilot metrics report: delivery accuracy, defect rates, parent NPS (target NPS>70), school admin NPS, repeat intent rate. Compare cost savings vs previous vendor for case study. Package for Seed investor DD.
Activate investor pipeline with pilot data in hand. Target: 3–5 qualified Seed investor intros per week. Target close within 60 days of pilot metrics report. Data room prepared (financials, pilot case study, vendor agreements, team CVs, cap table, legal structure in full under NDA).
Begin onboarding 2nd LOI school to generate multi-school metrics. Demonstrates repeatability for investors. Even 2 successful deliveries at 2 schools = significant proof that the model is not one-time-founder-dependent.
| Phase | Months | Budget | Key Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Foundation & Benchmarking | 1–2 | $12,000 | Company formed, 50+50 surveys, 10 buy & bench, mills, lab |
| 2 — Product Development | 2–4 | $10,000 | Trims, combination (10), 2 sign-offs, 3+2 for 2 lead schools |
| 3 — Demand + orders | 3–5 | $8,000 | 50 June 2027 LOIs; 10 FGs after orders (§8.3: 11 then 12) |
| 4 — School Conversion | 4–5 | $8,000 | Pack + 50 June 2027 book, MVP |
| 5 — Fulfillment & Proof | 5–6 | $12,000–$22,000 | 2 June 2027 full serves; 50 LOI line; NPS, investor pack |
| Total | 10 months (pre-pilot / recruitment + execution) | $60,000 (cap) | 14-stage map + 10-mo people run-rate + COGS — Executive Report |
The $60,000 pre-Seed cap in §8.3 covers map + lean team + proof COGS in one envelope. The phase budget table above is illustrative; the Executive Report is authoritative. Recurring founder living costs during the bootstrap period are separately managed:
| Cost Item | Monthly Est. | 12-Mo Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founder living costs | ₹50K (USD ~$556/mo) | ₹6.0L (USD ~$6.7K) | Self-funded / personal savings |
| Co-working space (hot desk) | ₹8K (USD ~$89/mo) | ₹0.96L (USD ~$1.1K) | WeWork / local co-working; Bangalore |
| Phone, internet, SaaS tools | ₹5K (USD ~$56/mo) | ₹0.6L (USD ~$667) | Google Workspace, domain, basic CRM |
| Travel for school meetings | ₹15K (USD ~$167/mo) | ₹1.8L (USD ~$2K) | Included in Phase 1–4 budgets where applicable |
| Legal (company + basic IP) | — | ₹2.5L (USD ~$2,778) | Covered in Phase 1 ($2,500 incorporation) |
| Total Recurring OpEx | ~₹78K (USD ~$867/mo) | ~₹9.4L (~$10,444) | Founder-borne; not from SAFE |
SAFE converts at the better of $2M post-money cap OR 20% discount to next qualified equity round. When Seed Tranche A investors price at a $25M post-money cap, Pre-Seed SAFE holders get equity at a $2M post-money cap — a 12.5x better price than Tranche A investors. This is the early-backer premium.
YC-style document (modified for Indian corporate law / FEMA compliance). Minimum investment: $1,000 USD equivalent. Suitable for friends, family, angel, and mentor investors with high risk tolerance. Full data room shared upon signing NDA.
| Parameter | Pre-Seed SAFE ($60,000 Pool) | Seed SAFE ($20M Pool) |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Money Cap | $2M | $25M (Tranche A) / $40M-$50M (Tranche B) |
| Discount | 20% | 20% |
| Implied Price Advantage | 12.5x lower cap than Seed A | 1x (reference round) |
| Pool Size | $60,000 | $20,000,000 |
| Investor Profile | Angel, F&F, mentors | Seed-stage VCs, HNIs |
| Timing | Q2 2026 (now) | Q3 2026 (post-pilot) |
| Purpose | Bootstrap pilot | Scale to 200 schools |
| Min Ticket | $1,000 | $250,000 |
| Conversion Trigger | $500K+ qualified round | $500K+ qualified round |
| MFN Clause | Yes (within SAFE pool) | Yes |
| Pro-Rata Rights | Limited (see below) | Full |
| Outcome | Pilot fails; no Seed close |
| SAFE terminates | No conversion; capital at risk |
| $10K investment | $0 (worst case) |
Pre-Seed SAFEs are high-risk instruments. All investors must be accredited or accept full risk disclosure.
Seed Tranche A closes at $25M post-money cap. Pre-Seed SAFE converts. Tranche B at $40M-$50M (milestone-gated). Series A at $300M (Y3). Strategic exit at $400M+ company valuation.
| $10K → shares at $2M post-money cap valuation | 0.5% equity |
| After Seed + Series A dilution | ~0.35% |
| Exit value ($400M) | $1.4M |
| Multiple on $10K | 140x |
National scale achieved. Strategic/PE exit at $600M+ valuation. $10K at $2M post-money cap generates maximum theoretical upside.
| Post-dilution ownership (Series A+B) | ~0.25% |
| Exit value ($600M+) | $1.5M+ |
| Multiple on $10K | 150x+ |
When Seed Tranche A closes at a $25M post-money cap, Tranche A investors effectively buy at that entry cap. Pre-Seed SAFE investors are locked in at a $2M post-money cap — same trigger, 12.5× cheaper entry. At any exit valuation, Pre-Seed SAFE investors earn ~12.5× more per dollar invested compared to Tranche A investors (entry-cap ratio: $25M ÷ $2M = 12.5×, before dilution from subsequent rounds). This is the classic early-angel premium.
Numbers above assume no additional dilutive events between Pre-Seed SAFE issue and exit. Actual dilution from employee ESOP pool, Seed, Series A, Series B will reduce ownership proportionally.
$60,000 Pre-Seed SAFE investment converts at $2M post-money cap (20% discount vs. Seed price). Assuming Seed Tranche A at $25M post-money:
Post-Seed dilution ($60,000 at $2M post-money cap → 3.0% at conversion → ~2.1–2.3% after Seed dilution)
~2.1–2.3% × $400M (illustrative; pre further dilution)
~$8.4M–$9.2M on $60,000 (illustrative exit case)
Assumes $400M exit valuation (conservative for ₹1,500 Cr (~$166.7M) Y5 revenue). Pre-Seed SAFE angels get same terms as Seed investors but with proven MVP data.
Why schools switch to TUA even without regulatory pressure.
With Delhi, Bhopal, Chandigarh, and Pune cracking down on monopoly vendor mandates, TUA is the school's safe harbor. We are the transparent, multi-option supplier that satisfies regulatory requirements without the school losing control of brand standards.
TUA's platform eliminates 90% of the uniform admin burden: no size disputes, no NEFT/cash collections, no vendor calls, no parent complaints. School admin logs in to dashboard; all data is clean and downloadable. One less headache for a management team running 800 students.
Schools who opt into the revenue share model receive 8% of Order Value (inclusive structure) for facilitating TUA's access to their parent network, settled automatically: 4% within 3 business days of cleared parent prepay and 4% within 7 business days after Successful Delivery via regulated aggregator split (e.g. Razorpay Split Settlement). Parents pay 100% on-platform at order confirmation; schools do not invoice TUA for the commission. Structured as either: (a) a marketing collaboration agreement, or (b) a vendor placement fee — based on legal counsel opinion. School earns ₹2–2.4 Lakh (USD ~$2,222–$2,667) annually from a 250-student school (250 × ₹10–12K × 8%). Detail: Executive §6 — Revenue share & auto-split. Legal structure finalized pre-Scale phase.
NPS >70 on parent satisfaction with uniform quality and delivery becomes the school's marketing asset. In competitive school admission cycles, parent word-of-mouth about "the school that fixed the uniform mess" is genuine brand differentiation.
Schools receive annual growth trend data for their student body — useful for budget planning, health/growth tracking, and future procurement. TUA's size-curve dataset is a proprietary data asset that becomes more valuable with each school and year.
3-year contracts with TUA include customized logo embroidery templates, proprietary size-curve reports, and parent onboarding history — all of which are TUA-platform-native. The switching cost for a school to change vendors after year 2 is operationally significant, creating TUA's natural moat without aggressive pricing.
If no qualified financing event occurs within 36 months, the SAFE terminates without conversion. There is no repayment obligation on TUA. Investors must treat this as a high-risk, potentially total-loss instrument. Pre-Seed SAFE is suited only for investors with a diversified early-stage portfolio and an appetite for full loss.
Minimum ticket size for the Pre-Seed SAFE is $1,000 (approximately ₹90,000 at current rates). This floor is set to ensure meaningful skin-in-the-game while keeping the pool manageable. Total pool is $60,000 across all Pre-Seed SAFE investors. Once fully subscribed, no further Pre-Seed SAFEs will be issued.
No. SAFE investors have no voting rights, no board seats, and no veto powers before conversion. Post-conversion (upon Seed/Series A close), shares carry standard minority investor rights. Pre-Seed SAFE investors receive information rights only: quarterly progress updates by email.
TUA is incorporated as a Private Limited Company under Companies Act 2013 (DPIIT-registered for FEMA compliance). Foreign or NRI investors use the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Automatic Route (India's 100% automatic sector entry under FEMA). SAFE investment by non-residents is structured as CCDs (Compulsorily Convertible Debentures) for FEMA compliance. FC-GPR filing completed within 30 days of each investment. FVCI option available for registered institutionals.
Yes. The §8.3 bootstrap plan is scoped and sequenced on a full $60,000 close (14-stage map + 10-month run-rate + 2-school proof COGS). This is the minimum executable amount for the published scope, timeline, and investor-readiness outputs. If total funds are below $60,000, this plan should be deferred or formally re-baselined as a different plan.
The Pre-Seed SAFE includes a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause. If TUA issues any subsequent SAFE at a higher post-money cap or better terms before the qualifying event, Pre-Seed SAFE holders automatically get those improved terms. The Seed Tranche A post-money cap ($25M) is higher than the Pre-Seed post-money cap ($2M) — this is intentional and expected. The MFN clause protects against unforeseen SAFE issuances with caps lower than the Pre-Seed cap.
$60,000 Pre-Seed SAFE · $2M Cap · 20% Discount · Limited investors · First-come-first-served basis
uniform.foundation@gmail.com · NDA required for full data room and SAFE document
Quick reference for all acronyms and terms used in this document.