About Finelyst

Finelyst is an independent resource for people building a startup. We explain the numbers and decisions that first-time founders run into, from validating an idea to reading a term sheet, and we build free calculators so you can check those numbers against your own situation.

Why this site exists

Most founders meet the same questions at roughly the same time: How long will our cash last? How much of the company do we give up in a seed round? What does a pre-money valuation actually mean for our ownership? Is our customer acquisition cost too high? The answers are usually simple arithmetic wrapped in jargon. Our aim is to remove the jargon, show the arithmetic and let you run it yourself.

What you will find here

• Guides on starting up, fundraising, equity and cap tables, startup finance, go-to-market and building the early team. Each article targets one concrete question and answers it directly in the first paragraph.
• Free tools: a runway and burn rate calculator, a funding dilution calculator, a pre-money and post-money valuation calculator and a SaaS unit economics calculator. More will follow when there is a clear need.
• Worked examples with every formula spelled out, so you can follow the logic instead of trusting a black box.

Editorial standards

• No invented data. We do not quote statistics, studies or surveys we cannot verify. Numbers in our articles are worked examples, and we label them as such. Where we mention a rule of thumb, we say that it is one and that it varies by market and stage.
• One question per article. Each guide covers its topic properly and links to related guides instead of repeating them.
• Updated, not abandoned. When we revise an article in substance, we show the update date at the top.
• General information, not advice. Fundraising, equity, tax and employment law differ by country and change over time. Our content explains concepts and mechanics; it is not legal, tax or investment advice. For decisions with real consequences, talk to a qualified lawyer, tax adviser or accountant.

Your data stays with you

All calculators on Finelyst run entirely in your browser. The figures you enter are not sent to a server, stored or shared. Close the tab and they are gone.

Contact

Spotted an error, an unclear explanation or a calculation that does not add up? Corrections are welcome. You can find our contact details in the imprint.