"How much is too much?" is the question founders ask least and regret most. Here are the going rates, and a simple way to decide whether a given stake is worth it.
What is the going rate?
Across the programs in the FindSeed directory, accelerator equity clusters into three bands — the same bands the directory colour-codes:
- 0–7% · founder-friendly. The healthy range for a standard accelerator check. YC's 7% for $500K is the reference point. Browse equity-free →
- 7–10% · standard. Common and often fair when the program brings a large check, hands-on support, or a strong follow-on fund.
- 10%+ · steep. Justifiable only for meaningful capital (think $1M+), a venture-studio level of build support, or day-zero programs that help you form the company itself.
Why equity-free is not always the win
A 0% program sounds strictly better — it is not. Equity aligns incentives: a program that owns a piece of you has a reason to keep helping after Demo Day. The real question is value per point of dilution. Ask: what does this specific program add to my next round, and is that worth the percentage? A 7% stake that unlocks a $3M seed is cheap; a 10% stake for a logo and a Slack channel is not.
Run the dilution math
Equity compounds across rounds. A quick model:
- Accelerator takes 7% → you keep 93%.
- Seed round dilutes ~20% → you are at ~74%.
- Series A dilutes ~20% → ~60% between founders.
An extra 3% at the accelerator stage flows through every future round. Over two more rounds, that "small" difference is roughly 2% of the company at exit — often six or seven figures. Small numbers early are large numbers late.
Benchmarks tell you if a deal is normal. Fit tells you if it is right. If you have not yet, start with how to choose an accelerator.
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