# The real runway and the way through “The real runway and the way through” is a chief executive and co-founder job simulation on FinderK. You work at Fieldnote, an original fictional company, and complete 3 assignments in about 65 minutes. It is for anyone who wants to practice chief executive and co-founder work. No previous work experience is required. - Role: Chief executive and co-founder - Industry: Startup CEO/Founder - Career: Startup leadership (https://finderk.com/careers/startup-leadership) - Level: Intermediate - Time: About 65 minutes, 3 assignments - Access: Included in Plus - Created by: FinderK - Work tools: Mail, Office documents and spreadsheets, Tables, Calendar, Chat - Page: https://finderk.com/simulations/the-real-runway-and-the-way-through - Last updated: 2026-10-10 ## Summary The board pack says the company spends 70,000 dollars a month; the January ledger says more, and the board meets on Friday. Build the runway statement from the ledger, cost the ways through the next ninety days and recommend one, and settle with your co-founder what happens to the integration he wants to finish. ## Full brief You are the chief executive of a small software company with eleven people and one investor on the board. The board pack says one thing about spending and the ledger says another. You build the runway statement, which says how long the cash lasts, from the ledger and sign it. You cost the ways through the next ninety days, including a bridge note, a short loan that converts into shares, and recommend one to the board in a memo. You decide what happens to an integration your co-founder wants to finish and tell him before the board hears it. Automated checks confirm your figures and saved work; your judgement is reviewed against the standard for the role. ## What is Fieldnote? Fieldnote is a fictional company that sells job scheduling software to small field service firms by monthly subscription. It has eleven people on payroll, 94 customers and one venture investor on its board. This case takes place in the week of 1 February 2027. All times are UTC and all amounts are US dollars. The chief executive decides on money, people and customers; the board approves notes, budgets and reductions of more than one role. ## Who do you play? You are the chief executive and co-founder in the Leadership team. You run Fieldnote day to day and answer to a board of four: you, your co-founder, the Northlight director and the independent director, Marcus Oyelaran, who chairs it. Under the founders' agreement you decide on money, people and customers; your co-founder decides technical design. You may set prices within policy, reduce one role and spend within budget. The board approves any note, any reduction of more than one role, any exclusivity term and a fundraise. You cannot change the published discounts, promise a feature by a date, or change the board without the consents in the agreement. ## What will you do? 1. 1. Where the cash really is (20 minutes) 2. 2. Three ways through (25 minutes) 3. 3. The co-founder conversation (20 minutes) ## Which skills will you practice? - Build a cash figure from the ledger, not the plan - Choose a way through against the goal, not only the cash - Give a co-founder a decision he argued against ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does “The real runway and the way through” take? About 65 minutes, across 3 assignments. When the time is up, you get 10 minutes to round up and submit. Pausing stops the clock. ### Is “The real runway and the way through” free? No. It is included in FinderK Plus. With a free account you can also do it without grading. ### Do I need chief executive and co-founder experience? No. No previous work experience is required. The listed level is intermediate. ### What do I get when I finish? You get feedback on each assignment you submit. Completing all required assignments earns a completion certificate. It records participation and is not professional accreditation. ### Is Fieldnote a real company? No. Fieldnote is an original fictional company made for practice. Its coworkers may make mistakes, so check their suggestions against the evidence.