Runway Calculator
See how many months of cash you have left, the date the bank account hits zero, and when to start raising.
Your result
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial or legal advice.
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How it works
Runway is cash divided by net burn. If you expect burn to grow (for example because you keep hiring), the calculator increases burn every month by your growth rate and counts until cash runs out.
Because rounds typically take 6–9 months from first meeting to money in the bank, the “start fundraising by” date is nine months before zero cash.
Formula
Runway (months) = Cash ÷ Net burnWith burn growth g: burn in month k = Net burn × (1 + g)^k, counted until cash hits zeroZero-cash date = today + runway
Frequently asked questions
How much runway should a startup have?
Aim for 18–24 months after a round. Start raising the next round with at least 9–12 months left, so you never negotiate with an empty bank account.
What counts as cash for runway?
Money you can actually spend: bank balances and short-term deposits. Do not count signed but unpaid grants or investments until they arrive.
What if my burn is zero or negative?
Then you are cash-flow positive and runway is unlimited — the calculator shows that instead of a date.
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