Struggling to build financial models without my old finance team’s templates. Which fundamentals (CAC payback, runway planning, etc.) are non-negotiable for early-stage founders? Any community-built tools or frameworks that simplify this transition from product specs to P&Ls?
Focus on three models: 1) 18-month cash runway tracker with monthly burn scenarios 2) Unit economics model showing profitability at scale 3) Hiring plan tied to funding milestones. Avoid overengineering - use Google Sheets templates initially. Key is understanding how each lever impacts your funding timeline.
try the startup financial model kit from YC’s site! helped me get first prototype budget sorted in like 2 days 
real answer? learn to bullshit. Your Series A deck needs pretty charts but investors know early numbers are fiction. Master the art of plausible storytelling with excel. Actual modeling comes later when you’re not eating ramen.