Split discussionMake assumptions visible
01
Make assumptions visible
Score time commitment, role, risk, capital, intellectual property, traction, and future responsibility with editable weights.
FREE PRACTICAL TEMPLATE · 8 WORKSHEETS
Cofounder Equity Split & Vesting Calculator
Turn founder contributions, future commitment, role coverage, vesting, and dilution into a transparent equity discussion—not a guess.
30–60 minutes to completeBuilt for New cofounders and founding teamsFormat Editable Excel workbook
Get the free resource ↓CREATED BY PIPETIDYEXCEL TEMPLATE / 8 WORKSHEETSFounder Equity Calculator
Turn founder contributions, future commitment, role coverage, vesting, and dilution into a transparent equity discussion—not a guess.
FREEA LOOK INSIDE
Practical pages.
No filler.
Every page is designed to help you make a decision, complete a check, or change a real workflow.
VestingModel how equity is earned
02
Model how equity is earned
Compare the common four-year schedule with a one-year cliff against terms reviewed for your company and jurisdiction.
Company coverageFind the missing owner
03
Find the missing owner
Assign twelve core executive and operating functions so the founding team can see accountability gaps before they become problems.
WHAT YOU GET
Built to be used,
not just downloaded.
- 01Two-to-six-founder weighted contribution model
- 02Equal-split and model-suggested comparison
- 0348-month vesting and 12-month cliff benchmark
- 04Hiring-pool and fundraising dilution scenarios
- 05Executive-function coverage and decision log
THIS IS FOR YOU IF…
- ✓ Teams forming a new company
- ✓ Founders revisiting a handshake split
- ✓ Advisers facilitating an evidence-based founder discussion
WHAT IT WILL NOT DO
- — Create, issue, transfer, or value legal equity
- — Decide what is fair without founder agreement
- — Replace company, securities, tax, employment, or immigration counsel
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GOOD TO KNOW
Questions, answered.
Does the calculator recommend an equal split?
It shows both an equal split and a weighted model. Y Combinator has argued that equal or near-equal splits often reflect the long work still ahead, but each team must document its own facts and obtain advice.
Why show a four-year schedule and one-year cliff?
That is a common startup benchmark, including in Y Combinator guidance. It is not a legal default; counsel should draft the actual grant, repurchase, acceleration, departure, and leaver terms.
What is the 83(b) reminder?
For US restricted property, a potentially applicable election generally has a strict 30-day filing deadline after transfer. The workbook flags the question but does not determine eligibility or file anything.
Does it create a cap table?
No. It models founder percentages and dilution scenarios for discussion. Use company records and qualified legal and tax advisers for the authoritative capitalization record.
FREE · IMMEDIATE · PRACTICAL