How do founders actually model dilution before they take the check?

Most founders sign before they model dilution. The vibe is not the math.

How I have seen it work:

1. Write founder shares before the round

2. Write the check size and the pre-money

3. Put the option pool in, pre-money, because that is who it dilutes

4. Read the post-round percentages. If founders go under 50% combined at pre-seed, the round is too big or the valuation is too low

Round Funded shows that cap table so the give-away is a number, not a feeling.

https://www.roundfunded.com/en/t...