How much dilution in a seed round?
Seed rounds typically dilute founders 10–25%, with 15–20% most common. Learn what drives dilution, how option pools add to it, and model your own cap table.
When you raise a round you sell a slice of the company, diluting existing shareholders. Knowing the typical ranges helps you judge whether a term sheet is founder-friendly — and model the cumulative effect across rounds.
Typical dilution by round
| Round | Typical dilution |
|---|---|
| Pre-seed / angel | ~5–15% |
| Seed | ~10–25% (15–20% common) |
| Series A | ~15–25% |
| Series B+ | ~10–20% |
Don't forget the option pool
Investors often require an option pool (commonly 10–20%) to be created or topped up before the round — the "pre-money pool shuffle". This dilutes founders, not the new investors, so factor it into your real dilution.
Cumulative dilution
Dilution compounds. If founders start at 100% and sell 20% at seed and 20% at Series A, they are left with roughly 100% × 80% × 80% = 64%, before option pools. Model the whole path, not one round at a time.
Protecting your ownership
- Raise only what you need to hit the next milestone.
- Negotiate pool size and whether it's pre- or post-money.
- Push for higher valuation rather than just a bigger cheque.
- Model several rounds ahead before signing.
Quick dilution check
Run the numbers on your own startup
Use the free Cap Table calculator — no signup, instant results.
Open the Cap Table CalculatorFrequently asked questions
How much equity do you give up in a seed round?
Seed rounds typically dilute founders by 10–25%, with 15–20% most common. The option pool and exact terms can push the effective figure higher.
Does the option pool dilute founders or investors?
When created or expanded pre-money (the usual case), the option pool dilutes existing shareholders — primarily founders — not the incoming investors.
How do I model dilution across multiple rounds?
Dilution multiplies: founder ownership after each round = previous ownership × (1 − new investor %). Use our cap table calculator to model Seed, Series A and B together.