default alive

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

describing a startup whose normal growth will make it profitable without needing more funding

Why this phrase?

From Paul Graham's 2015 essay 'Default Alive or Default Dead?': a startup's fate if nothing changes.

Example

“We're default alive — the path to profitability doesn't require the next round.”

Dictionary details

Alternate forms

default alive or default dead

Component words

default alive

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

alive and kicking Neutral · CEFR B1

still healthy, active, or functioning despite age or difficulty

burn rate Neutral · CEFR B2

the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month

runway Neutral · CEFR B2

the amount of time a company can keep operating before its money runs out

seed money Neutral · CEFR B1

the initial capital used to start a business

playbook Neutral · CEFR B2

a set of proven methods, tactics, and moves for a given situation

bootstrapping Neutral · CEFR C1

building a company without outside investment, funding it from personal resources and revenue

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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