Built on real fundraising math
- 18-24 mo
- Standard runway target
- 20-30%
- Typical buffer founders forget
- 12
- Languages supported
- Free
- No credit card required
Free founder calculator
How much to raise, calculated
Tell us your monthly burn, the runway you want, and a safety buffer. We tell you the exact ask that gets you to the next milestone without coming back early.
- Exact ask amount tied to your runway target
- Includes safety buffer so you do not come back early
- Free. Localized in 12 languages. No card.
Used by founders raising at YC, Techstars, 500, Antler, and Google for Startups.
Created by founders from top global accelerators
How it works
Three numbers. One ask that does not undershoot.
- 01
Drop in your burn and target runway
Monthly burn from your burn-rate calculation. Target runway is usually 18 to 24 months.
- 02
Add a safety buffer
Default 20 to 30%. Buffer protects you against burn creep, hiring acceleration, and one bad quarter.
- 03
Get your ask, minimum, and target
Three numbers: the ask you pitch, the minimum to walk away from, and the lead amount you target.
See what you'll get
A clear funding ask backed by your real burn and runway needs. Sign up to calculate yours.
Sample result
Recommended ask$1.5MCovers 18 months of runway at current burn plus a 25% buffer. The number to put on slide 1 of your deck.
Minimum ask$1.1MBare minimum for 18 months of runway. Below this you raise too small and come back early.
Target raise$1.8MLead amount you target so a $1.5M close still hits goal even with $300k of soft commits falling out.
Sign up to calculate your own ask based on your burn rate and milestones.
How founders consistently get the ask wrong
Four mistakes that lead to either undershooting (coming back early) or overshooting (more dilution than necessary).
01
Tie ask to milestone, not to runway alone
Investors want to know what milestone the raise gets you to. Series A founders should be able to show $5M ARR, 20% MoM growth, or 100% net retention by raise end. "18 months of runway" is not a milestone. "$2M ARR by Q4 2026" is.
02
Build burn creep into your model
Burn does not stay flat. Hires get added. Tools get bought. Salaries grow. Project burn 6 months out, not just current burn. Most founders raise based on today's burn and run out in month 14 of an 18-month plan.
03
Lead with a target, not a maximum
If your target is $1.5M, raise to $1.8M. Soft commits fall out. Term-sheet investors negotiate down. Aim 20% higher than your minimum so a partial close still hits goal.
04
Justify the number in 30 seconds
Every investor will ask "why this number?" Have a clean 30-second answer: "$X to hit $Y ARR in Z months, plus a buffer for hiring two engineers and one marketer." Vague founders raise vague amounts.
Frequently asked questions
How long of a runway should I raise for?
18 to 24 months is standard. Less than 18 means you start raising again 6 months from now. More than 24 dilutes you unnecessarily. The sweet spot is 18 to 22 months.
Should I raise more than I need 'just in case'?
No. Over-raising costs founder equity. Raise what you need plus a 20 to 30% buffer. If the round oversubscribes, take the extra capital only if it comes from strategic investors at the same terms.
What buffer percent is normal?
20 to 30% above your minimum need. 25% is the comfortable default. Below 15% leaves no margin for surprises. Above 40% looks like you do not understand your own model.
Does this account for projected revenue growth?
No. Use current burn for the base calculation. Revenue growth is a separate model. If you are confident in growth, project burn 6 months out (which already includes growth investments) and use that number.
When should I recalculate?
Before every fundraising conversation. Burn changes monthly. Milestone targets shift. The number you raised on six months ago is rarely the number you should pitch today.
Keep going
Ask is one number. Here are the rest.
Round Funded
Right ask. Right investors. Right outcome.
Round Funded gives you the math, the investor list, and the outreach so you raise the right amount from the right people. Track every reply in one pipeline.