How much should you raise in a seed round?
Based on advice from Geoff Ralston (Y Combinator), Carta · Updated 2 October 2026
Short answer
Raise enough to reach your next fundable milestone, which YC's seed guide says is usually 12 to 18 months away, and tie the amount to a believable plan. On dilution, the guide says giving up 10% in a seed round is wonderful, most rounds take up to 20%, and you should try to avoid more than 25%.
How to work out the amount
- Pick the milestone that makes the next round easy, and how many months it takes, usually 12 to 18.
- Multiply your monthly costs by those months. The guide's rule of thumb used about $15,000 a month all-in per engineer: 5 engineers for 18 months is about $1.35 million. Use your own costs today.
- Make plans for different amounts and show the company works with either. The difference is how fast you grow.
How much to give up
- About 10%: wonderful, if you can manage it.
- Up to 20%: what most seed rounds require.
- More than 25%: try to avoid it.
What founders own after each round
Carta's Founder Ownership Report (January 2025) found the median founding team owns 56.2% of the company after the seed round, 36.1% after Series A and 23% after Series B.
In your deck
Your ask slide should show the amount, what it buys and the milestone it reaches. That's the plan investors will judge the amount against.
Real examples
Airbnb (2008) · slide 14
Airbnb asked for $500K for 12 months, tied to a milestone: 80,000 transactions and $2 million in revenue.
See the whole Airbnb deck
Read the originals
- A guide to seed fundraising · Geoff Ralston (Y Combinator)
YC's guide to how much to raise, SAFEs, valuation and closing.
- Founder ownership report · Peter Walker (Carta)
How much founders own after each round, and how splits have changed.
- SAFE and convertible note calculator · Carta
See what you'll own after your SAFEs convert.
Questions founders ask
- How much should I raise in a seed round?
- Enough to reach your next fundable milestone, usually 12 to 18 months away, per Y Combinator's seed guide, tied to a believable plan.
- How much equity should I give up in a seed round?
- YC's seed guide says 10% is wonderful, most rounds take up to 20%, and you should try to avoid more than 25%.
- How much do founders own after a seed round?
- Carta found the median founding team owns 56.2% after seed and 36.1% after Series A (Founder Ownership Report, January 2025).
Get your deck reviewed the same way.
Comments on every slide, the words to change highlighted, and the 3 fixes that matter.
Keep reading
- How to make the ask slide in your pitch deck
YC's guidance for the ask: how much you're raising and what it gets you. Plus how much to raise and how much to give up, from YC's seed guide.
- SAFE vs priced round: which should you use for a seed round?
YC's seed guide on SAFEs vs priced equity: why most seed rounds use SAFEs, what you negotiate, and why priced rounds cost more time and money.
- How big should the option pool be at seed?
Balderton's guide: an employee option pool of 7.5 to 10% at seed to Series A, growing to 15% or more. Plus the standard 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff.