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Compute runway for three scenarios using usable cash only

  • For Executives
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Build a table with the header Scenario | Cash | Monthly burn | Runway months for Base, Downside and Upside. Use usable cash only (leave out restricted cash). Runway is cash divided by burn, rounded down to a whole month; show the working inside the last cell like "10.5 / 0.8 = 13". After the table add one line starting "Below the 12-month line:" naming each scenario under 12 months. Plain text, under 100 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Counting restricted cash. The AI divides 12.0 by the burn. Try: Say: "Use usable cash only: leave out the restricted 1.5."
  • Rounding up. The AI rounds 8.75 to 9. Try: Say: "Round down to a whole month."
  • Counting the unsigned raise. The AI adds $2M. Try: Say: "Do not include the unsigned raise."
  • Missing working. The AI shows only results. Try: Say: "Show the working in the last cell."
  • Markdown. The AI bolds the header. Try: Say: "Plain text."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the header
  • Usable cash only
  • Round down
  • Shows the working
  • Gives the threshold line

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