BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  P&L  >  Is Your Startup Burning Cash Too Fast? 3 Red Flags To Watch

Is Your Startup Burning Cash Too Fast? 3 Red Flags To Watch

Chan Qi Yang, Co-Founder, FinKnight | Chang Lih Yen, Co-Founder, FinKnight

23-Jun-25 11:00

Is Your Startup Burning Cash Too Fast? 3 Red Flags To Watch

Most startups don't fail because of a bad product; they fail because they run out of money. In a tough funding climate, maximising cash flow, and optimising burn rate and runway is no longer optional, it's essential for survival. So, how can founders balance the need for growth with disciplined financial management?

Chan Qi Yang and Chang Lih Yen, co-founders of the financial advisory firm FinKnight, join us to share a practical playbook for early-stage startups. They demystify critical concepts like core burn rate, cash conversion cycles, and flux analysis to help founders gain control over their numbers.

We discuss:

  • The critical difference between being profitable and being cash-flow positive.

  • How to properly calculate and manage your core burn rate.

  • Key strategies for optimising your cash conversion cycle ("money in fast, money out slow").

  • How to balance growth spending with cost control by treating every dollar as a test.

  • Common financial mistakes and how early-stage founders can avoid them.

For founders and entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of scaling, this conversation has crucial lessons in financial discipline and strategic cash management.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  CorporatesmanagingentrepreneursSMEinvestmentsfinancial wellness

Tags:  burn ratestartup financecash flow managementfundraising





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited in Chicago, tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

: Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin of NUS discusses how Singapore has evolved and the nation's future in conjunction with its 60th year of independence.ith expert insights.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Danial Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) on initiatives for the education sector in the MP13.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Sumit Mukherjee, Managing Director for Southeast Asia at Turner & Townsend discusses how the firm stays relevant in Malaysia’s evolving construction landscape.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, Partner, Thomas Philip talks about the KL Planning Rules 2025

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited in Chicago, tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Chong Tjen San, Director, CGS International discusses which sectors are set to benefit from the 13MP's development expenditure.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Sumit Mukherjee, Managing Director for Southeast Asia at Turner & Townsend discusses how the firm stays relevant in Malaysia’s evolving construction landscape.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

Writer and speaker Imran Ahmad presents a one-man show, "Life, the Universe and Publishing," to benefit PEN Malaysia, supporting writers and free expression. He joins us with Mahi Ramakrishnan, President of PEN Malaysia, to discuss the show, the cause, and the power of the written word.

3:20 PM

Front Row

Frank McGuinness’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me returns to KLPAC. We speak with lead actors Charles Donnelly and Kingsley Judd about reprising their roles, and the play's enduring message of human spirit and survival through connection.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Are MRI machines safe? We explore the unusual death of a man sucked into an MRI machine and how to improve safety.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector

Covering all styles of music from indie, dubstep, folk, soul, electro and everything in between from some of the most exciting artists in the UK.