Ownership split across founders/investors. The Cap Table Calculator takes founder 1 shares, founder 2 shares, investor shares, option pool shares and returns total shares plus founder 1 ownership, founder 2 ownership, investor ownership, option pool. Results update as you type, and the formula is shown under the result so you can repeat it in your own spreadsheet.
Startup metrics are about the efficiency of growth: how much it costs to win and keep customers, how fast recurring revenue compounds, and how long the cash lasts. Investors read these numbers before they read the pitch. Use the worked example below to check the maths against your own figures.
How the Cap Table Calculator works
A cap table lists who owns how many shares and therefore what percentage. Always compute fully diluted percentages, including unissued options, because that is how the next investor will see it.
Worked example
With the example values (founder 1 shares of 5000000, founder 2 shares of 3000000, investor shares of 2000000, option pool shares of 1000000), the total shares is 11,000,000; founder 1 ownership 45.45%, founder 2 ownership 27.27%, investor ownership 18.18%, option pool 9.09%. Change any figure above and the result updates immediately; use Copy results to paste the summary into a note or email.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is total shares calculated?
ownership = holder's shares ÷ total shares (fully diluted, including the option pool).
Which figures do I need?
Founder 1 shares, founder 2 shares, investor shares, option pool shares. Take them from the same period and the same set of accounts or reports so the ratio is consistent, and check the example values as a guide to the units expected.
What do investors consider healthy?
Common benchmarks: LTV:CAC above 3, CAC payback under 12–18 months, net revenue retention above 100%, monthly churn under 2% for SMB and under 1% for enterprise, and at least 12–18 months of runway.
