Pre-revenue startup · Five risk factors

Berkus Method Valuation Calculator

Assign value to five early-stage risk reductions, then estimate financing ownership and dilution.

Factor values and financing

CurrencyMaximum value per factorNew investmentFully diluted shares before financingSound idea (%)Basic value; product riskPrototype (%)Reduces technology riskQuality management team (%)Reduces execution riskStrategic relationships (%)Reduces market riskProduct rollout or sales (%)Reduces production and commercial risk

Valuation result

Estimated pre-money valuation—

Maximum modeled valuation—

Value captured—

Unrealized valuation headroom—

Post-money valuation—

Investor ownership—

Existing holders after round—

Implied price per share—

New shares issued—

Strongest / weakest factor—

How the Berkus Method works

Each completed milestone receives up to the entered per-factor value. The five contributions are added to estimate a pre-money value for a startup that does not yet have reliable revenue forecasts.

The factors follow Dave Berkus’s method: sound idea, prototype, quality management team, strategic relationships, and product rollout or sales. The classic illustration uses up to $500,000 per factor and $2.5 million total; change the cap to fit local comparable deals. This is a subjective negotiation aid, not investment advice.