Default Alive or Default Dead?
Original excerpt
October 2015 When I talk to a startup that's been operating for more than 8 or 9 months, the first thing I want to know is almost always the same. Assuming their expenses remain constant and their revenue growth is what it has been over the last several months, do they make it to profitability on the money they have left? Or to put it more dramatically, by default do they live or die? The startling thing is how often the founders themselves don't know. Half the founders I talk to don't know whether they're default alive or default dead. If you're among that number, Trevor Blackwell has made a handy calculator you can use to find out. The reason I want to know first whether a startup is…
Frequently asked questions
What is "Default Alive or Default Dead?" about?
This article by Paul Graham is part of the Paul Graham reading list on Burn 451, covering startups & essays.
Who wrote "Default Alive or Default Dead?"?
This piece is part of the Paul Graham vault on Burn 451, covering startups & essays. The original author is attributed at the source link.
How can I read more content from Paul Graham?
The complete Paul Graham reading list is available at burn451.cloud/vault/paul-graham. Each article includes an AI-generated summary so you can decide what to read in seconds. Connect the Burn 451 MCP server to Claude or Cursor to query all Paul Graham articles as live AI context.
Can I use "Default Alive or Default Dead?" with Claude or Cursor?
Yes. Install the burn-mcp-server npm package and connect it to Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Cursor. Once connected, your AI can search and reference this article and the full Paul Graham vault in real time — no manual copy-paste required.
30 more articles in this vault.
Import the full Paul Graham vault to Burn 451 and build your own knowledge base.
Content attributed to the original author. Burn 451 curates publicly available writing as a reading index. For removal requests, contact @hawking520.