Forecastr

Full breakdown is in the blog. Read it here: forecastr.co/blog/manage-st…

Most founders know their revenue number by heart. Far fewer know their burn rate with the same confidence. And that gap is where startups get into trouble, not from a bad month, but from not seeing it coming. Burn rate isn't just an accounting metric. It's the number that tells you how much time you actually have. Gross burn shows you what you're spending. Net burn shows you what you're losing. Together, they give you your real runway, and real options. The founders who manage cash well aren't cutting expenses obsessively. They're tracking both numbers, forecasting consistently, and making decisions before the pressure hits. We put together a full guide on how to calculate, monitor, and manage your burn rate without holding back growth: hubs.li/Q047GWd_0

Here's something most first-time founders don't realize until it's too late: your existing investors are your single best source of future capital. Not new VCs. Not cold outreach. The people who already believe in you, already understand the business, and already have skin in the game. But that only works if you've kept the relationship alive between rounds. A quarterly email isn't a relationship. A monthly update with real numbers, honest context, and a clear ask when you need one? That's how follow-on checks happen. We're diving into all of this on March 26 with Gust. How to structure investor updates, what to share (and what to hold back), and the small moves that turn a passive cap table into an active one. 📅 Thu, March 26 · 2:00 PM ET Reserve your seat here: hubs.li/Q047jFjQ0 #investorupdates #startups #fundraising #founderlife #venturecapital #investorrelations

At some point, every growing startup hits a moment where the founder realizes they're making financial decisions they're not fully qualified to make. Because the decisions have gotten bigger than what a spreadsheet and good instincts can handle. Board prep, investor reporting, cash flow modeling across multiple scenarios, pricing strategy with real margin implications. That's the moment most founders start googling "fractional CFO." The problem is, most of what's out there is either a sales pitch or so vague it doesn't help you evaluate whether it's the right move for your stage. On April 2, we're breaking it all down in a live session with Gust. What a fractional CFO actually does day to day, when it makes sense to hire one, what it costs, and how to find the right fit without overcommitting. 📅 Thu, April 2 · 2:00 PM ET Grab your spot here: hubs.li/Q047G22s0 #fractionalcfo #startupfinance #cfoservices #startupgrowth #venturecapital

We built the Monthly Finance Playbook specifically for this. It walks through how to set up your model so this review is actually fast. If that sounds useful: forecastr.co/monthly-financ…

If your monthly financial review takes more than 30 minutes, that's a systems problem, not a discipline problem. Here's what a well-structured review actually looks like: 1. Actuals vs. plan. Revenue, burn, cash. Where are you off, and by how much? (10 minutes) 2. One root cause. Not a list of reasons. The single biggest driver of the variance. (10 minutes) 3. One forward adjustment. Does what you saw change anything about the next 90 days? (10 minutes) That's it. The goal isn't a perfect analysis. It's a consistent habit of knowing where you stand. If your model isn't set up to make this fast, the Monthly Finance Playbook walks through how to fix that: hubs.li/Q047zrJ00 How long does your monthly financial review take you right now? No judgment. #founders #startups #financialplanning #startupfinance #productivity

Here's the free financial model template, built to scale as you grow: forecastr.co/templates

Your model didn't break because you made mistakes. It broke because you grew, and the structure never kept up. Most founders hit a point where the spreadsheet that used to give them confidence starts creating doubt. QuickBooks says one thing, the model says another. Updates take half a day. "What if" scenarios feel too risky to run. Swipe through these 5 signs and keep a count as you go. If you hit 3 or more, patching it won't hold. The issue isn't a formula. It's the foundation.

One founder described managing startup finances as piloting a plane in fog at mountain level. It's a striking way to put it. And based on what we hear from founders every day, it's accurate. The confusion isn't about competence. Most founders we work with are sharp, capable operators. The problem is they don't have a system that converts raw numbers into actual decisions. Revenue is up. Great. But is that the new channel, or are you burning more to acquire? Cash looks fine. But what does it look like in 90 days if hiring stays on pace? Those questions don't get easier the longer you've been at this. They get easier when you have the right instrument panel. We put together a free finance playbook for founders who want to start seeing clearly. It covers the questions worth asking before your next big move: hubs.li/Q0473tYW0 What's the one question your financial model still can't answer for you?

Closing a round feels like crossing a finish line. For most founders, that's exactly when the real work of managing investor relationships begins, and exactly when it falls to the bottom of the list. The problem isn't bad intentions. It's that nobody teaches founders how to actually maintain these relationships after the wire hits. What do you send? How often? What level of transparency is too much, and what's not enough? The founders who get follow-on checks and warm intros to their next round aren't doing anything complicated. They're just doing something consistently. On March 26, join us and Gust for a live session covering the tools, templates, and habits that keep investors informed, engaged, and genuinely excited to keep backing you. 📅 Thu, March 26 · 2:00 PM ET Grab your spot: hubs.li/Q047j3670 #investorrelations #startupfinance #fundraising #founderlife #venturecapital #startupgrowth

The smartest happy hour in Austin lived up to its name. Investors Jeff Erickson of FnF Ventures, John Fitch of Palm Venture Studios and Bryan Liu of Alumni Ventures broke down the AI trends reshaping investment strategies. Then James Richardson of Amersia and Emilia Molimpakis of Thymia shared what truly innovative AI looks like in the real world. And somewhere between the panels and the craft cocktails at Palm Venture Studios, the best conversations of SXSW happened. Thank you to Agora, Thymia, and Amersia for making it happen. #SXSW2026 #AIInnovators #VentureCapital #Founders #StartupFunding

Four founders stepped on stage at Pershing Hall. Two walked away with the win. Pitch Roast Live brought together some of the most compelling early-stage companies we've seen — Keegan O'Connor of Chillshark, Omer Haciomeroglu of Planet Tech, Jessica Strickland of Matchmaker AI, and Dr. Michael Barnes of Viva Benefits — in front of a real investor, three comedians who brought the heat, and a room full of people who witnessed the roast. The pitches were sharp. The roasts were sharper. And the afterparty was a blast. Thanks to everyone who came out, and to Noah Obstfeld for hosting a night we won't forget. #SXSW2026 #PitchRoastLive #StartupFunding #Founders

Grab your spot before seats fill up — this one's free to attend but limited: luma.com/ewq8vom4

Raising capital in 2026 looks different than it did two years ago. Join our Co-Founder & CEO Steven Plappert for a live session with the Powderkeg community on March 18, built for founders who are in the middle of a raise or gearing up for one. You'll leave with a clearer picture of what investors are backing right now, a financial model that builds confidence not confusion, and a sharper pitch that cuts through the noise. This session is normally exclusive to Powderkeg Executive Council members, but you can apply for a guest pass here. 👉 hubs.li/Q047146v0 #Fundraising #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #FounderLife #Startups #PitchDeck #StartupFinance #Powderkeg #Forecastr

Most founders go through two distinct phases with their finances. Phase one: you're reacting. Every time you open the model it's because something feels off, someone asked a question you couldn't answer, or a decision can't wait any longer. The numbers feel like a source of stress, not a tool. Phase two: you're operating. You check in regularly because it's fast and the model actually tells you something useful. Decisions feel grounded. You can see what's coming before it arrives. The difference between those two phases isn't financial knowledge. It's system quality. Most founders stay in phase one longer than they need to because they assume the discomfort is just part of running a startup. It doesn't have to be. Which phase are you in right now?

Most early-stage fundraising advice sounds the same: build relationships, tell a great story, know your numbers. All true. None of it tells you what to actually do on Monday morning. The founders who raise successfully don't just have better networks or better ideas. They treat fundraising like a project with stages, milestones, and a timeline, not something that happens to them while they're busy running the business. On March 19, we're co-hosting a live session with Gust to walk through the three key stages of raising early-stage capital. What to do at each phase, how to execute without losing momentum, and where most founders quietly fall behind. 📅 Thu, March 19 · 2:00 PM ET No cost to join. Register here: hubs.li/Q044DBj20 #fundraising #earlystagecapital #startupfinance #venturecapital #founderlife #startupgrowth

VC Reverse Pitch 👉 luma.com/fnfxsxsw0326 AI Innovators & Investors 👉 luma.com/njjmcx4q Pitch Roast Live 👉 luma.com/pitchroastsxsw

Today's the day. We're officially at SXSW and we're not slowing down. 🤠 Here's where you can find us: Tonight — VC Reverse Pitch · Mar 12 at 6:00 PM The tables have turned. Investors pitch to you. 👉 hubs.li/Q046hl9_0 Tomorrow — AI Innovators & Investors · Mar 13 at 3:00 PM The smartest happy hour in Austin, co-hosted with Agora. 👉 hubs.li/Q046hr9j0 Tomorrow — Pitch Roast Live · Mar 13 at 6:00 PM Pitch. Get roasted. Win. 👉 hubs.li/Q046hJWC0 Which one are you going to? 👇 #SXSW2026 #SXSW #Austin #AustinTech #StartupAustin #VCReversePitch #PitchRoast #AIInnovators #FounderCommunity #Forecastr

Grab your spot here 👇 luma.com/njjmcx4q

We're co-hosting AI Innovators & Investors Austin at SXSW with Agora, Thymia, and Amersia — and it's exactly the kind of afternoon the Austin startup scene needs right now. 🥂 AI founders, venture capitalists, and cutting-edge builders — all in one room, during the most electric week in tech. Whether you're an AI founder, an investor, or just curious about where AI, capital, and creativity collide, this is the room to be in. March 13. 3:00 PM. Austin, Texas. Spots are limited and approval is required. Grab your spot here 👉 hubs.li/Q046jqND0 Will we see you there? 👋 #SXSW2026 #SXSW #AIInnovators #VentureCapital #AIFounders #StartupAustin #AustinTech #AIInvesting #FounderCommunity #Forecastr