Use case
Track Your Financial Runway
The problem
Most founders don't know their real runway. They have a rough number from last month's spreadsheet, but it's based on stale data, doesn't account for this week's expenses, and breaks every time they try to model a hiring decision or pricing change. The result: they find out they're running low when it's too late to do anything about it.
How Starch solves it
Starch gives you a live, daily runway number by connecting Stripe (revenue) and Plaid (expenses). Runway Analysis shows where you are right now — months of cash, net burn, expense breakdown. Scenario Analysis shows where you could be — what happens if you hire, raise prices, or grow slower than planned. Transaction Insights catches the weird charges and subscription creep that quietly inflate your burn. Together, you always know the answer to 'when do I need to raise?'
How it works
Daily runway awareness in 60 seconds
- 1Open Runway Analysis — your current months of runway, net burn rate, and cash position are updated from live Stripe and Plaid data.
- 2Scan the 6-month trend: is your burn improving, worsening, or flat?
- 3Check Transaction Insights for any anomalies or new recurring charges that changed your burn this week.
- 4If you're considering a big decision (hiring, pricing change, fundraise timing), open Scenario Analysis and model it against your live baseline.
- 5Walk into your next board meeting or investor conversation knowing the exact number — not a guess from last month.
Apps that power this
Financial
Runway Analysis
Track burn rate and financial runway by combining Stripe revenue with bank account expenses from Plaid.
Financial
Scenario Analysis
Model financial futures using live Stripe revenue and Plaid expenses — compare growth, headcount, and burn scenarios side by side.
Financial
Transaction Insights
Analyze bank transactions with category breakdowns, spending trends, and anomaly detection from your connected Plaid accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from checking my bank balance?
Your bank balance tells you how much cash you have. Runway Analysis tells you how long it will last at your current burn rate, with a 24-month projection. The difference matters when burn is changing month to month — which it almost always is for early-stage companies.
Does it replace my accountant?
No. Your accountant produces tax-ready books (reconciled, accrual-basis). Starch gives you real-time cash-basis visibility from live bank data. They serve different purposes — most founders need both.
Can I model fundraising scenarios?
Yes. In Scenario Analysis, you can add a funding event (amount, date) and see how it changes your runway under different burn assumptions. Compare 'raise $2M now' vs. 'raise $3M in 3 months' side by side.
Are these apps available now?
Runway Analysis, Scenario Analysis, and Transaction Insights are live in closed beta. Request access at starch.site.
Ready to track your financial runway?
Join the closed beta — free for early users.
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