Your numbers are in. Want to accelerate your growth?
Book a Strategy CallKey metrics every funded startup needs to track for growth and fundraising readiness.
Download
Tip: MOIC does not account for time. A 3x in 2 years is far better than a 3x in 10 years. Always pair MOIC with IRR for the full picture.
MOIC = Total Value Returned / Total Capital Invested
Implied IRR = (MOIC ^ (1/years)) – 1
Example:
By Investment Stage:
Fund-Level Benchmarks (Gross MOIC):
Sources: Cambridge Associates VC Benchmark, PitchBook VC Fund Performance Report 2024, Preqin Global VC Report.
Use MOIC when:
Use IRR when:
The VC math that founders should understand: A typical VC fund needs to return 3x net to LPs (after fees and carry). With 2% annual management fee and 20% carry, the fund needs roughly 4-5x gross MOIC. Since 50-70% of investments return less than 1x, the winners need to return 10-30x to carry the portfolio. This is why VCs are looking for outsized outcomes, not modest returns.

How upGrowth helped Fi Money dominate AI Overviews for smart deposit queries.

Complete guide to sales growth formulas, CAGR, and industry benchmarks.
Framework for choosing the right growth metric for every situation.

How upGrowth helped Scripbox achieve 198K traffic and 8M impressions via organic.

How upGrowth helped Lendingkart achieve 20% business growth through Google Ads.
Everything about fintech marketing in India: channels, compliance, growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about MOIC Calculator
MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital) measures total return as a multiple of the original investment. A 5x MOIC means Rs 1 invested became Rs 5. It is the most widely used return metric in venture capital and private equity because it is simple, intuitive, and does not require time-period calculations.
For individual investments: 3x+ is good, 5x+ is strong, 10x+ is exceptional. For fund-level: top quartile VC funds return 3-5x gross MOIC. Top decile exceeds 5x. Median funds return 1.5-2.5x, which after fees barely returns LP capital with modest profit.
MOIC measures total return magnitude (how much). IRR measures annualized return rate (how fast). A 3x in 2 years has a much higher IRR than a 3x in 10 years, even though the MOIC is identical. Investors use both together for a complete picture.
Gross MOIC is the raw investment return before fees and carry. Net MOIC is what LPs actually receive after deducting management fees (typically 2% annually) and carried interest (typically 20% of profits). A 3x gross MOIC might be roughly 2.2-2.5x net MOIC depending on fund terms and hold period.
Because most VC investments fail. In a typical fund, 50-70% of investments return less than 1x (partial or total loss), 20-30% return 1-3x, and only 5-10% return the 10x+ needed to make the fund work. The winners must compensate for all the losses. This is why VCs seek outlier outcomes.
Show investors the path to 10x+ returns from your current valuation. If you are raising at Rs 50 Cr valuation, demonstrate how the company reaches Rs 500 Cr+ in exit value within 5-7 years. Back this with market size, growth rate, competitive position, and comparable exits in your sector.
Most India-focused VC funds target 3-4x net MOIC to LPs. Given the Indian market dynamics (longer hold periods, fewer exit options vs US), gross MOIC targets are typically 4-6x. Top-performing India funds like Accel, Sequoia India (now Peak XV), and Blume have achieved 5x+ gross on their best vintages.