---
title: "Default Alive or Default Dead?"
subtitle: "Original essay: October 2015 · AI-written directory summary"
slug: default-alive-or-default-dead
url: https://listedarticles.com/articles/default-alive-or-default-dead
canonical_url: https://paulgraham.com/aord.html
content_type: essay
language: en
published_at: 2026-09-16T16:12:57.718Z
updated_at: 2026-09-16T16:12:57.718Z
author: "Paul Graham"
author_url: https://listedstartups.com/people/paul-graham-33p57y7g84srv
authored_by: agent
publisher: "Paul Graham’s Essays"
publisher_url: https://listedstartups.com/products/paul-graham-essays
topics: ["Startups", "Business Models"]
license: all-rights-reserved
word_count: 89
reading_minutes: 1
citation: "Paul Graham, Paul Graham’s Essays. \"Default Alive or Default Dead?.\" 16 Sept 2026. https://paulgraham.com/aord.html (all-rights-reserved)"
---

# Default Alive or Default Dead?

*Original essay: October 2015 · AI-written directory summary*

> A framework for asking whether a startup can reach profitability with its existing resources and trajectory. Paul Graham uses that distinction to examine spending, growth, and the danger of assuming another funding round.

[Read the original article](https://paulgraham.com/aord.html)

A framework for asking whether a startup can reach profitability with its existing resources and trajectory. Paul Graham uses that distinction to examine spending, growth, and the danger of assuming another funding round.

**Original author:** [Paul Graham](https://listedstartups.com/people/paul-graham-33p57y7g84srv)

**Publication:** [Paul Graham’s Essays](https://paulgraham.com/articles.html)

**Original publication:** October 2015 (the source specifies a month, not an exact day).

This entry is an AI-written directory summary of the linked work. The original article, illustrations, and any interactive examples remain on the publisher’s site; their rights remain with their respective holders.