Burn multiple
Burn multiple is a capital-efficiency metric that measures how much net cash a startup burns to generate each dollar of net new annual recurring revenue.
Canonical Upseed vocabulary
Startup glossary
Plain definitions for the funding, ownership, program, metric, and ecosystem language you encounter while building or backing a startup.
Metrics & KPIs
5 terms
71 reviewed definitions in the current glossary
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Default alive
Default alive means a startup is on a trajectory to reach profitability before it runs out of cash, assuming its current expenses stay roughly constant and its recent revenue growth continues.
Default dead
Default dead means a startup will run out of cash before it reaches profitability if it keeps operating on its current trajectory and does not raise additional capital or make significant changes.
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Z
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Every published term requires an Upseed-authored definition, a completed review, high source confidence, and at least one HTTPS source. Each entry links to one primary or representative source and states how many sources were reviewed.
Last reviewed
June 5, 2026
Known limits
Startup and investment language can vary by market, document, and jurisdiction. These definitions explain common usage and are not legal, financial, tax, or investment advice.
Upseed is an independent guide. Definitions are educational explanations, not representations made on behalf of the organizations or sources linked.