Engine 4 of 4 — Open Standard

The Human Capital Agreement

The open standard for structuring human capital investment. Compliant under current U.S. securities law. Designed to become the default instrument for human capital deals — the way the SAFE became the default for early-stage equity.

The HCA standard is published under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0. Free to use, adapt, and implement.

Why Publish an Open Standard?

The SAFE didn't make YC money directly. It made YC the infrastructure layer for early-stage investment. The HCA is the same move for human capital.

The Y Combinator SAFE Move

YC published the SAFE in 2013. Within five years it became the default instrument for early-stage investment. InsideRWA is publishing the HCA as the default instrument for human capital investment — before the regulated market arrives.

Category Authority

Whoever writes the standard owns the category language. The HCA establishes InsideRWA as the infrastructure layer for human capital deals, not just a marketplace participant.

Adoption Creates the Moat

Every deal done on the HCA standard creates a data point in the InsideRWA dataset. The dataset improves the HCI score. The improved score attracts more issuers. The flywheel is the moat.

Regulatory Positioning

When income-share agreements become regulated at the federal level, InsideRWA will have years of compliant deal history and the established standard. That track record is the license application.

HCA vs. Traditional Income-Share Agreements

The HCA is not an ISA. ISAs are consumer credit products subject to inconsistent state regulation and the Edly failure mode. The HCA is a securities offering — better protections for both parties.

FeatureInsideRWA HCATraditional ISA
Legal structureSecurities offering (Reg CF / Reg D)Consumer credit / state law varies
Repayment obligationNone — alignment modelFixed obligation — obligation model
Default mechanismNo default — suspension of participationDefault, collections, credit damage
Investor protectionSEC disclosure requirementsState consumer protection law (inconsistent)
Secondary marketATS-eligible after holding periodGenerally not transferable
Downside protectionIncome floor + suspension provisionNone — obligation continues
Upside capMaximum Return MultipleOften uncapped (Edly lesson)

The Edly lesson: Edly structured human capital investments as debt obligations. When issuers' incomes fell short, the obligation model created hardship and defaults. The HCA's alignment model — suspension of participation during hardship, no personal guarantee, no default mechanism — is a direct response to that failure mode.

HCA v1.0 — Document Preview

The full standard document. Published under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0.

Preamble & Purpose
This Human Capital Agreement (HCA) is a standardized framework for structuring economic relationships between a human capital issuer (the "Issuer") and one or more backers (each, a "Backer"). The HCA is designed to be legally compliant under current U.S. securities law, economically fair to both parties, and structurally clear enough to be rated by the InsideRWA Human Capital Index (HCI). The HCA draws on the following design principles: (1) alignment over obligation — Backer returns are tied to Issuer success, not to a fixed repayment schedule; (2) transparency — all material terms are disclosed in plain language; (3) regulatory compliance — the HCA is structured as a Reg CF or Reg D offering, not as a consumer loan or income-share agreement subject to state usury law; and (4) portability — the HCA standard is open and may be adopted by any compliant issuer.
Article I — Parties
1.1 Issuer. The individual or entity tokenizing their human capital. The Issuer represents that all information provided in the InsideRWA Issuer Intake Form is accurate and complete. 1.2 Backer. Any person or entity purchasing HCA tokens through a compliant offering (Reg CF, Reg D 506(b), or Reg D 506(c)). Backers acknowledge the speculative nature of human capital investments and confirm their eligibility under the applicable offering exemption. 1.3 InsideRWA. The independent rating and intelligence platform that assigns an HCI score to the Issuer and maintains the HCA standard. InsideRWA is not a party to the economic relationship between Issuer and Backer and does not guarantee any return.
Article II — Economic Terms
2.1 Token Structure. HCA tokens represent a fractional economic interest in the Issuer's defined income stream (the "Covered Income"), as specified in the Offering Document. Tokens are not debt instruments and do not create a fixed repayment obligation. 2.2 Patronage Tier (Stage 1). Prior to any income-share provisions becoming effective, Backers receive the Patronage Benefits specified in the Offering Document. Patronage Benefits may include access to content, advisory sessions, community membership, or other non-financial consideration. This tier is structured as a Reg CF subscription offering. 2.3 Upside Participation (Stage 2). When Covered Income exceeds the Baseline Income Threshold specified in the Offering Document, Backers receive the Participation Rate (expressed as a percentage of Covered Income above the threshold) for the Participation Period. The Participation Rate and Participation Period are set at the time of offering and may not be modified without Backer consent. 2.4 Alignment Provisions. The Participation Rate is capped at the Maximum Return Multiple specified in the Offering Document. If Covered Income falls below the Minimum Income Floor for two consecutive years, Participation is suspended until recovery. These provisions reflect the alignment model: Backers rise with the Issuer; they do not extract from a struggling one. 2.5 No Obligation Model. The HCA is explicitly not a loan, income-share agreement, or debt instrument. There is no personal guarantee, no default mechanism, and no recourse to the Issuer's assets. The Issuer's only obligation is accurate and timely reporting of Covered Income.
Article III — Reporting & Transparency
3.1 Annual Income Report. The Issuer shall provide a verified Annual Income Report within 90 days of each fiscal year end. The report shall include total Covered Income, calculation of Participation (if any), and a narrative update on career trajectory. 3.2 Material Change Disclosure. The Issuer shall disclose any material change in career status, income source, or professional representation within 30 days of the change. 3.3 InsideRWA Surveillance. InsideRWA will conduct quarterly HCI score surveillance and publish updated scores to the Marketplace. Score changes do not alter the economic terms of existing HCA agreements but are disclosed to Backers. 3.4 Canton Network Anchoring. All HCA token issuances are anchored to the Canton Network for on-chain proof of issuance, transfer record, and compliance audit trail.
Article IV — Legal Framework
4.1 Securities Law Compliance. HCA tokens are securities offered pursuant to an applicable exemption from SEC registration (Reg CF, Reg D 506(b), or Reg D 506(c)). The Offering Document specifies the applicable exemption and investor eligibility requirements. 4.2 Transfer Restrictions. HCA tokens are subject to a 12-month holding period from the date of purchase (Reg CF) or as specified in the Offering Document (Reg D). Secondary transfers are permitted only through compliant ATS platforms after the holding period. 4.3 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration under JAMS rules. 4.4 Not a Consumer Credit Product. The HCA is not subject to the Truth in Lending Act, state usury laws, or consumer credit regulations. It is a securities offering. Backers are investors, not lenders.
Article V — Definitions
Covered Income: The income streams specified in the Offering Document, which may include employment income, business revenue, royalties, speaking fees, or other specified sources. Covered Income excludes passive investment income, inheritance, and insurance proceeds unless specifically included. Baseline Income Threshold: The annual income level above which Participation begins. Set at the time of offering based on the Issuer's current income and career stage. Participation Rate: The percentage of Covered Income above the Baseline Income Threshold paid to Backers, expressed as an annual rate for the Participation Period. Participation Period: The number of years during which Participation is active. Typically 5–10 years from the date of first Participation payment. Maximum Return Multiple: The maximum total return (expressed as a multiple of the original investment) that Backers may receive over the life of the HCA. Caps total Backer returns and protects the Issuer from unlimited obligation. Minimum Income Floor: The annual income level below which Participation is suspended. Protects the Issuer during periods of hardship.

Regulatory Staging: Now vs. When Regulated

The HCA is designed to work under current law and to evolve as the regulatory landscape clarifies.

Available Now
Patronage Tier (Stage 1)
Reg CF subscription offering — legally clean today
  • Backers receive access, content, and community benefits
  • Structured as a Reg CF subscription — no income-share
  • Issuer raises up to $5M/year from retail investors
  • Full SEC disclosure requirements apply
  • Canton Network anchoring for on-chain proof
When Regulated
Upside Participation (Stage 2)
Income-share provisions — activated when regulatory clarity arrives
  • Backers receive a share of Covered Income above the threshold
  • Participation Rate and Period set at offering
  • Maximum Return Multiple caps total Backer returns
  • Income Floor protects Issuer during hardship
  • ATS secondary market access after holding period

Adopt the HCA Standard

The HCA is free to use, adapt, and implement under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0. If you are structuring a human capital offering, we encourage you to use the HCA standard and apply for an InsideRWA HCI rating.

CC BY 4.0 — free to use Reg CF / Reg D compliant Alignment model Canton Network anchoring
The HCA standard is not legal advice. Issuers should engage qualified securities counsel before launching any offering.