Free calculator
Accelerator ROI calculator: what the equity costs, and what it has to return
Seven percent for $125k is a valuation under $2M. Whether that is a good deal depends on what the program does to your next round. Enter the terms and your expected seed, and see the break-even uplift.
How to value the deal
Cash divided by equity gives the implied valuation: $125k for 7 percent is about $1.8M post-money. A program is worth it if it raises your next valuation, or the probability of raising at all, by more than the equity cost. The calculator expresses that as the uplift the program has to deliver.
What accelerators actually provide
A network of investors on demo day, a cohort of peers, structure and deadlines, credibility with first customers and investors, and perks worth real money such as cloud credits and software. The value is highest for first-time founders without a network and lowest for repeat founders with revenue.
The break-even uplift
If you could raise a $5M seed without the program, a 7 percent program breaks even only if it lifts your seed valuation by roughly the equity cost. The output shows the exact percentage; compare it with what alumni of that program actually raised.
Alternatives
Angels at a $4M to $6M cap, pre-seed funds, grants, and non-equity programs run by corporates or universities. The accelerator directory lists what each program takes and gives.
Questions founders ask
Which programs give the most?
YC’s standard deal is the reference point; check each program’s current terms on its website, they change every year.
Do perks count as cash?
Only the ones you would actually use. $100k of cloud credits is worth $100k only if your bill is that high.
What about non-equity programs?
Enter zero equity. The output shows the value of the cash and perks alone.
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