How Much Should I Raise? Calculator

What this tool does

The right round size covers the burn from today until the money lands, then the runway you need to hit the milestones for the next round, plus a cushion for delays.

How to use it

1. Enter cash and net burn today, and how fast burn grows once you hire.
2. Set how long the raise will take and the runway you want after it.
3. Read the minimum, the rounded ask and what it costs you in ownership.

The maths, in plain view

• Cash at close = cash − burn during the raise
• Need = burn over (runway + cushion), growing each month
• Minimum raise = Need − cash at close
• Dilution = raise ÷ (pre-money + raise)

A worked example

With $300k in the bank, $45k net burn growing 3% a month after the round, a 4-month raise and 18 + 3 months of runway, the minimum is about $1.2M and the suggested ask is $1.25M, roughly 13.5% of the company at an $8M pre-money.

Tips

• Investors ask 'what does this money get you?' before 'how much?'. Tie the ask to milestones.
• A round that leaves under 12 months of runway forces you to fundraise again almost immediately.

Want the full story? Read How much should a startup raise? Work it out from burn.