SCAPE Equity Curve

Startup Capital Appreciation Engine - Simulate VC equity dilution, valuation growth, MOIC & IRR

Holding Value
Post-Money Valuation
MOIC
Dilution > Growth

Presets

Investment Parameters

Initial Ownership %20%
Initial Investment$100K

Round Parameters

Dilution Rate %25%
Valuation Multiple3x
Funding Rounds4
Years per Round2

Key Metrics

MOIC
-
IRR (Internal Rate of Return)
-
Final Ownership
-
Final Holding Value
-
Total Years
-
Final Valuation
-

Understanding the Equity Curve

In venture capital, equity gets diluted round by round while valuation grows. The "dilution-valuation crossover effect" shows how explosive valuation growth can offset dilution losses, reflecting the power-law return characteristics of the VC industry.

Each funding round dilutes existing shareholders. If the dilution rate is 25%, a 20% stake becomes 15% after one round. However, if the valuation triples, the holding value still grows significantly despite owning a smaller percentage.

VC returns follow a power-law distribution. Most investments lose money, but a few "unicorn" winners generate outsized returns that cover all losses. This is why understanding the dilution-valuation crossover is critical for venture investors.

Read the chart: Blue bars show your holding value at each round. Green bars show post-money valuation. The yellow curve tracks your cumulative MOIC. Red markers appear when dilution exceeds growth in a round.