The clock every founder should know
Runway turns two numbers into the one that actually matters — how much time is left to reach the next milestone or raise. See the Break-Even Calculator for the sales volume needed to stop burning cash altogether.
Frequently asked questions
What is startup runway?
How many months your business can operate before running out of cash, given your current cash balance and monthly net burn (expenses minus revenue).
What is "burn rate"?
Your net monthly cash outflow — total expenses minus any revenue. If revenue exceeds expenses, burn is negative and cash is actually growing, so runway is effectively infinite.
How much runway should I aim for?
Many founders target at least 12-18 months, giving enough time to hit milestones or raise again before cash runs critically low.
Last updated: June 2026