Startup Valuation Calculator

Three valuation methods, one calculator. Each method takes a different approach because pre-revenue startups can't be valued with traditional DCFs:

• VC Method — works backward from a future exit. Best for startups with a clear revenue trajectory. Investors plug in the return they need to get and the calculator solves for what pre-money valuation makes that work.
• Berkus Method — assigns up to $500K to each of five risk-reduction milestones (idea, prototype, team, relationships, rollout). Caps at $2.5M. Best for pre-revenue startups.
• Scorecard Method — multiplies a regional average pre-money by a weighted score across 7 factors (team, market, product, etc.). Best when you have local valuation data to anchor on.

Valuation isn't math, it's negotiation. But going into a fundraising conversation without a number puts you at a structural disadvantage — the investor will anchor on whatever they say first.

The point of running multiple methods is to build a defensible range rather than a single number. If VC method says $4M pre-money, Berkus says $2.5M, and Scorecard says $5M, you have a credible $3–5M range you can negotiate within. That's much stronger than walking in with a single $4M ask.

Investors often run the VC Method themselves to back into a target valuation. Knowing how it works lets you anticipate the offer they'll put on the table.