How Much Equity You’ll Actually Give Up in Your First Priced VC Round
| Round Name | Typical Amount Raised | Median Dilution (you sell) | Realistic Range (25th–75th percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pre-Seed | $500K – $999K | 10.7% | 6% – 18% |
| Pre-Seed | $1M – $1.9M | 15.6% | 10% – 22% |
| Small Seed | $2M – $2.9M | 18.4% | 11% – 28% |
| Standard Seed | $3M – $3.9M | 20.0% | 13% – 29% |
| Standard Seed | $4M – $4.9M | 21.6% | 16% – 27% |
| Bigger Seed | $5M+ | 23.7% | 19% – 33% |
Key Takeaways for 2025–2026 Fundraising
- 15–20% is the new normal for a proper Seed round ($2M–$5M). If someone tells you “Seed rounds are 10%” in 2025, they’re either YC (special deal) or living in 2019.
- The bigger the check, the more you sell — almost perfectly linear after ~$2M.
- Pre-Seed is now real dilution territory: $1–2M rounds at 12–18% are extremely common. The days of $1M on a SAFE with 5% dilution are over for almost everyone except top-tier founders.
- YC is still the unicorn deal: 7% for $500K (plus the uncapped MFN upside), which is why the orange bar is way left of everyone else.
Rule-of-Thumb for First-Time Founders in 2025
| You want to raise | Expect to sell | Target post-money valuation you need |
|---|---|---|
| $1.0–1.5M | 12–16% | $8–12M post |
| $2.0–3.0M | 16–20% | $12–18M post |
| $3.5–5.0M | 20–25% | $18–25M post |
Bottom line: If you’re raising your first real VC check in 2025–2026, plan to give up ≈20% of your company on average. Anything under 15% is a win; anything over 25% means your valuation was probably too low (or the round was too big, too early).
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