Budget and Forecast Systems for Startups Using AI
A structured path through AI-driven budget analysis, forecast modelling, and adaptive financial planning — built for consistent, verifiable progress under direct mentorship.
Detailed breakdown of what this programme covers, how it works, and what kind of commitment it requires.
Most early-stage startups track money reactively, checking bank balances before making decisions. A proper forecasting system changes that, but building one has historically required a CFO or an expensive consultant.
What this program addresses
Designed for founders and operations leads at pre-Series B companies, this program walks through setting up a budget model using accessible tools like Runway, Causal, or Google Sheets combined with AI plugins. The goal is a system you can maintain yourself, not one that falls apart when you are busy.
You will build a 18-month cash runway model, set up revenue forecasting tied to your actual sales pipeline, and create a simple headcount planning model that adjusts as you hire. Every template is included and documented.
Common problems this addresses directly
Founders frequently discover they are three months from zero cash with no warning. Or they hire ahead of revenue and cannot course-correct quickly. The AI-assisted system you build in this program gives you a working early-warning structure without requiring daily manual updates.
Priyanka Venkataraman, co-founder of a B2B SaaS company, used the runway model from this course to prepare for a bridge round conversation with her existing investors. She described it as the most useful financial document she had built since starting the company.Eight self-paced modules, one optional office-hours session per week.
Programme structure
Each stage builds directly on the previous one — no skipping, no filler modules.
Module Outline
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Module 1: Choosing the Right Tool for Your Stage
Runway vs Causal vs spreadsheets: what fits a startup under 30 people -
Module 2: Building Your First Cash Runway Model
18-month structure, burn rate inputs, and sensitivity toggles -
Module 3: Revenue Forecasting From Pipeline Data
Connecting CRM outputs to your forecast without manual entry -
Module 4: Headcount Planning Under Uncertainty
Modeling hiring timelines and their cost impact across scenarios -
Module 5: Scenario Planning for Fundraising
What to show investors and how AI models support the narrative -
Module 6: Setting Up Automated Alerts
Cash threshold warnings, expense anomalies, and revenue lag signals -
Module 7: Monthly Maintenance Routines
Keeping the model accurate without spending more than 90 minutes a month -
Module 8: Handoff Documentation
Preparing the model for a future CFO or finance hire