01 · Side by side

Side by side

Comparison sheet
AspectFlywheelBurn rate
Momentum fromInsideOutside
Has a deadlineNoYes
Early stageVery slowVery fast
Failure modeNever startsRuns out
02 · Which one you meant

Which one did you mean?

In shortReaders who land here meaning Flywheel rather than Burn rate are usually searching for phrases like “what is a flywheel in business”, “flywheel effect explained”, “good to great criticism”.

Flywheel

  • “what is a flywheel in business”
  • “flywheel effect explained”
  • “good to great criticism”
  • “how does momentum compound”

Burn Rate

  • “what is burn rate”
  • “how to calculate runway”
  • “burn rate meaning startup”
  • “what is a good burn rate”
03 · Which came first

Which came first

In shortBurn rate. 1984 — Earliest recorded use of 'burn rate' for how fast a company uses up its funds (Merriam-Webster's first known use).

  1. 1984

    Burn Rate. Earliest recorded use of 'burn rate' for how fast a company uses up its funds (Merriam-Webster's first known use).

  2. 16 October 2001

    Flywheel. Good to Great is published, setting out the flywheel and its opposite, the doom loop.

04 · Read either one

Read either one in full