Option Pool Shuffle Calculator
See exactly how much pre-money option pool placement costs you. Toggle between pre-money and post-money pool placement to compare founder ownership side by side.
Round Details
Pre-Money Pool (Standard)
Founders bear the full pool dilution
Founders: 65.0%
Post-Money Pool
Everyone shares the pool dilution
Founders: 68.0%
Pre-money pool placement costs you
3.0 percentage points
more founder ownership
How to Negotiate Option Pool Size
Investors often request a 15-20% option pool as a standard term. But the right pool size depends on your actual hiring plan for the next 18-24 months. Here is how to push back with data:
- Map out every hire you plan to make before the next round
- Assign equity grant ranges for each role (see table below)
- Total the grants and add a 10-20% buffer for opportunistic hires
- Present this bottoms-up number instead of accepting a top-down percentage
Typical Equity Grants by Role and Stage
| Role | Pre-Seed | Seed | Series A | Series B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP / C-Suite | 2-5% | 1-3% | 0.5-1.5% | 0.3-0.8% |
| Director / Lead | 1-2% | 0.5-1% | 0.2-0.5% | 0.1-0.3% |
| Senior Engineer | 0.5-1% | 0.2-0.5% | 0.1-0.3% | 0.05-0.15% |
| Junior Engineer | 0.1-0.3% | 0.05-0.15% | 0.02-0.08% | 0.01-0.05% |
| Advisor | 0.25-1% | 0.1-0.5% | 0.1-0.25% | 0.05-0.15% |
Ranges based on Carta 2025 data. Actual grants depend on company stage, location, and role criticality.
Vesting Schedules
Standard 4-Year Vest, 1-Year Cliff
The industry standard in the US and UK. Nothing vests during the first year (the cliff). After the cliff, 25% vests immediately. The remaining 75% vests monthly or quarterly over the next 36 months. If someone leaves before the cliff, they get nothing.
Fully Diluted vs Basic Share Count
The basic share count only includes shares that have been issued. The fully diluted share count includes everything: issued shares, all outstanding options (vested and unvested), convertible notes, SAFEs, and any reserved pool shares. Investors always use the fully diluted count when calculating ownership percentages. A founder might own 60% on a basic basis but only 42% on a fully diluted basis once the option pool, convertible notes, and reserved shares are included.