Finance

Runway

The number of months a company can operate before running out of cash at current burn rate.

Runway is how long a company can operate before running out of money, calculated as cash on hand divided by net burn rate. Startups typically aim for 18+ months of runway after fundraising. Less than 12 months puts the company in fundraising mode regardless of strategy preferences.

Formula
Runway (months) = Cash on Hand / Net Burn Rate
Example

Cash: $3M. Net burn: $250K/month. Runway = $3M / $250K = 12 months.

Related terms

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