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Seed Stage Equity Calculator

The Seed Stage Equity Calculator estimates the percentage ownership represented by a share grant and its value at a selected company valuation. It helps founders, employees, and advisors translate a number of shares into a fully diluted ownership percentage.

The output depends on using a fully diluted share count that includes the securities the company treats as outstanding for equity planning.

Enter your inputs

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Result
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Estimated ownership
Gross equity value—
Total exercise cost—
Value less exercise cost—

1. Enter the grant size

Use the number of shares, restricted units, or options in the grant.

2. Use a fully diluted share count

Include outstanding shares and other securities counted by the company for the fully diluted capitalization.

3. Add a company valuation

Enter the equity value used for the estimate.

4. Enter the exercise price

For options, provide the cost per share; use zero for outright shares.

5. Review percentage and value

Treat the value as an illustrative estimate, not guaranteed proceeds.

Ownership percentage = Grant shares ÷ Fully diluted shares × 100
Gross equity value = Company valuation × Ownership percentage
Total exercise cost = Grant shares × Exercise price

Net value shown is gross implied value less exercise cost and excludes taxes, preferences, and liquidity discounts.

What the result means

The ownership percentage is the grant’s share of the company’s selected fully diluted capitalization.

Future financings, option grants, and conversions can dilute the percentage.

Given: 100,000 options, 10,000,000 fully diluted shares, an $8 million valuation, and a $0.25 exercise price.

Calculation: Ownership = 100,000 ÷ 10,000,000 = 1%. Gross value = $80,000. Exercise cost = $25,000.

Result: Estimated ownership is 1%, with $55,000 of value before taxes after exercise cost.

What does fully diluted mean?

It generally includes common and preferred shares plus options, warrants, and convertible securities that are counted as if converted or exercised.

Should unvested options be included?

Use the full grant to understand headline ownership, or only vested options to estimate currently exercisable ownership.

Is the displayed value what I can sell the equity for?

No. Private-company equity may be illiquid, and actual proceeds depend on future valuation, transaction terms, and preferences.

How do taxes affect the estimate?

Tax treatment depends on the security type, jurisdiction, exercise timing, and sale. The calculator does not estimate tax.

How is this different from a dilution calculator?

This tool converts shares into ownership and implied value. A dilution calculator models how a financing changes an existing ownership percentage.