Runway Calculator
Calculate how many months your startup can survive with current cash. Know exactly when you need to raise, cut costs, or achieve profitability to keep your company alive. Essential for fundraising planning and survival strategy.
Understanding Startup Runway
Runway is the number of months your startup can continue operating before running out of cash. It's the most critical survival metric for early-stage companies. Run out of runway and you're done—no matter how good your product.
Runway Risk Levels
| Runway | Status | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| 18+ months | ✅ Healthy | Focus on growth, build investor relationships |
| 12-18 months | ✅ Comfortable | Start planning next round, optimize spending |
| 6-12 months | ⚡ Warning | Active fundraising, evaluate cost cuts |
| 3-6 months | 🚨 Critical | Emergency mode—raise or cut immediately |
| <3 months | 💀 Danger | Survival only—consider all options including M&A |
The Fundraising Timeline
Raising money takes longer than most founders expect. Plan accordingly:
- Preparation: 1-2 months (deck, data room, target list)
- Active fundraising: 2-4 months (meetings, pitches)
- Due diligence: 1-2 months (after term sheet)
- Total: 4-8 months typical
Rule of thumb: Start fundraising at 12-15 months runway. Aim to close with 9-12 months still remaining.
Extending Runway Without Raising
- Revenue acceleration: Launch paid features, pre-sell annual plans, increase prices
- Cost reduction: Salary cuts (founders first), team reduction, renegotiate contracts
- Bridge financing: Existing investors, venture debt, revenue-based financing
- Reduce scope: Focus 100% on what drives revenue or next milestone
Frequently Asked Questions
How much runway should I have before raising?
Start fundraising with 12-15 months runway. You want to close with at least 9 months remaining for leverage. Desperate founders get worse terms. Never start a raise with less than 6 months runway.
What if I can't raise and runway is running out?
Cut to survival mode: reduce to essential team, eliminate all non-critical costs, and focus 100% on revenue. Many successful companies (Airbnb, Mailchimp) survived near-death experiences through drastic cost cuts.
Should I include expected revenue growth in runway projections?
For internal planning, yes—model optimistic, base, and pessimistic scenarios. For investor discussions and critical decisions, use conservative projections assuming flat revenue. Better to be pleasantly surprised.