Join us on this week's episode of the Slice of Finance podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Siqi Chen, CEO & CFO at Runway.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

• Genesis of Runway: Siqi Chen shares how COVID-19 inspired the creation of Runway, a finance platform aimed at improving business planning and decision-making.

• Unique Approach: Runway focuses on solving real business problems with tools that integrate finance modeling, forecasting, and decision-making in a user-friendly interface.

• Core Philosophy: Fun and creativity in financial planning tools can foster better business decisions and drive efficiency across teams.

• Key Metrics and Features: Efficiency metrics and leverage drivers are central to Runway’s focus, offering comprehensive insights into financial impacts.

• Future Vision: Runway aims to expand its presence and redefine the finance management landscape for 2025 and beyond.

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How It All Began

When Siqi Chen faced the unprecedented challenges of leading Sandbox VR through the COVID-19 pandemic, he realized the glaring inefficiencies in existing finance tools. This pivotal moment led to the founding of Runway—a business planning platform designed to address the complexities of mid-market companies. "What if someone built a Figma for finance?" This idea transformed into a mission to create a tool that simplifies financial modeling and decision-making.

What Makes Runway Stand Out

Runway doesn’t just replicate traditional finance tools—it reinvents them. Unlike its competitors, which rely on static budgeting systems, Runway offers a dynamic platform that integrates causal drivers, enabling businesses to understand the impact of every financial decision. From engineering costs to marketing investments, Runway equips teams to connect operational strategies directly to financial outcomes.

Making Finance Fun

One of the most surprising accolades Runway receives from users is that it makes financial planning fun. Siqi Chen emphasizes the importance of creativity and flow in decision-making. A clean, responsive interface ensures users can think "at the speed of thought," mirroring the adaptability and speed of tools like Excel while delivering far greater insights.

Impact Across Teams

Initially designed for finance teams, Runway's scope has expanded to include product, sales, and growth teams. By integrating tools like Linear and Jira, Runway ensures that every team’s actions are financially accountable. From forecasting growth to evaluating product roadmaps, its comprehensive functionality drives smarter, collaborative decision-making across organizations.

Key Metrics Businesses Value

Runway helps companies focus on efficiency and leverage drivers as they grow. Beyond traditional metrics like revenue and burn rate, Runway provides insights into how teams can optimize onboarding, increase sales leverage, and enhance operational efficiency. This holistic approach empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions that align with their long-term objectives.

Looking Ahead

As Runway prepares for 2025, the company’s primary goal is increasing awareness and adoption. While industry leaders currently look to tools like Adaptive or Anaplan, Runway is positioning itself as a forward-thinking alternative that integrates the functionality of finance tools with the creativity of design platforms like Figma.

Runway is not just a finance tool—it’s a transformation in how businesses think about and manage their finances. With a focus on accessibility, creativity, and efficiency, Siqi Chen and his team are paving the way for a new era in business finance management. Stay tuned as this groundbreaking platform continues to redefine the future of finance.

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