A funding round changes everyone’s ownership, and the option-pool top-up changes the founders’ share before the new money even arrives. That is the “pool shuffle”, and it is where most founders get quietly diluted. This calculator shows the price per share, who owns what after the round, and how many pool shares you are really giving away.
Cap-table & dilution calculator
See what a priced round does to everyone's ownership, including the option-pool top-up that quietly dilutes founders. Enter your current shares and the round terms. Everything stays in your browser.
Want the mechanics behind the numbers? Read How a Seed Round Changes Your Cap Table and Pre-Money vs Post-Money Valuation.
Common questions
What does dilution mean for a founder?
Dilution is the fall in your ownership when new shares are issued, whether in a funding round or an option-pool top-up. You own a smaller percentage of a company that is (usually) worth more.
How is the price per share calculated in a round?
Pre-money valuation divided by the fully diluted shares before the new money, including any option-pool top-up that is counted in the pre-money. The calculator shows the resulting price and the post-round ownership for everyone.
What is the option-pool shuffle?
It is when the investors require the option pool to be topped up as part of the pre-money, so the founders absorb that dilution before the new money even arrives. It is a common term-sheet ask, and it is worth negotiating.
Do post-money SAFEs dilute founders more than priced rounds?
A post-money SAFE fixes the investor’s ownership at conversion, so the dilution falls on the founders and other existing holders. See our guide on pre-money vs post-money valuation for how that plays out.