Use case
Burn and runway reporting with Lucius
Definition
Burn is the rate at which a company spends cash; runway is how many months of cash remain at the current burn. Together they are the core survival metrics for venture-backed companies.
Map your current workflow
Tell us how this process runs today and we'll show how Lucius keeps contracts, cash, and the ledger connected.
The problem
- Burn and runway are estimated in spreadsheets that go stale the moment cash moves.
- Gross vs net burn, one-off items, and timing of large payments distort the picture.
- Founders can't see the real-time impact of a hire, a new contract, or a slipped payment on runway.
How Lucius solves it
- Lucius computes gross and net burn from live cash activity on the stateful ledger.
- Runway updates as cash, revenue, and spend change, so the number reflects reality not a monthly estimate.
- Because revenue and settlement are maintained too, net burn accounts for cash actually collected, not just invoiced.
Workflow
- 1
Sync cash activity
Bank and processor activity sync continuously into Lucius.
- 2
Compute burn
Gross and net burn derive from live inflows and outflows on the ledger.
- 3
Project runway
Runway updates from current cash and trailing burn automatically.
- 4
Attribute drivers
Burn breaks down by category so founders see what moves the number.
- 5
Report and decide
Live burn and runway feed board reporting and operating decisions.
Example data flow
| From | To | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Cash activity | Burn | Live inflows and outflows compute gross and net burn on the ledger. |
| Burn + cash | Runway | Runway derives from current cash and trailing burn. |
| Burn | Category breakdown | Spend is attributed by category so drivers are visible. |
Frequently asked questions
How does Lucius calculate burn and runway?
Gross and net burn derive from live cash inflows and outflows on the stateful ledger; runway is current cash divided by trailing burn, updated continuously.
Does Lucius show gross and net burn?
Yes. Both are computed from maintained state, with net burn accounting for cash actually collected, not just invoiced.
Is runway real-time?
Yes. Runway updates as cash, revenue, and spend change, so it reflects reality rather than a stale spreadsheet.
Can I see what's driving burn?
Yes. Burn breaks down by category so you can see the impact of hires, vendors, and one-off items.
Map your current workflow
Tell us how this process runs today and we'll show how Lucius keeps contracts, cash, and the ledger connected.
Map your workflowOr explore the stateful ledger — Lucius's financial system of record.