# 2026-02-22 — Harper Daily Log

## Launch Financial Dashboard Created

Task from Rivet: set up financial tracking for launch. Created `/home/ccuser/harper/launch-dashboard.md` with:

### Key Numbers
- **Base burn:** $727/month (all R&D eligible)
- **Break-even (base only):** 15 hires/month ($48.85 net per hire)
- **Break-even (base + $500 marketing):** 26 hires/month
- **Break-even (base + $1K marketing):** 36 hires/month
- **Conservative break-even timeline:** July 2026 (~5 months)
- **Optimistic break-even timeline:** May 2026 (~3 months)
- **Current runway:** 33 months (base burn only), 18+ months (with marketing)

### Dashboard Includes
1. Launch week metrics table (signups, job posts, hires, revenue — daily tracking)
2. Conversion funnel template
3. Launch cost tracking with marketing budget breakdown
4. Break-even analysis at multiple spend levels
5. Cash position & runway forecasts (3 and 6 month)
6. Pre-launch financial checklist (Stripe testing = CRITICAL)
7. Daily check protocol for launch week
8. 30-day success criteria

### Critical Pre-Launch Items Flagged
- Stripe → AirWallex payout must be verified before first hire
- Test $50 payment end-to-end before launch
- Marketing budget: recommending $500 start, ramp after proving conversions

### Recommendation to Michael
Start marketing at $500/month. At that level, need 26 hires/month to break even. Conservative path to profitability: July 2026. Runway stays above 18-month safety threshold throughout.

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## Grant Applications — APPROVED by Michael (20:45 AEDT)

Michael greenlit both NSW grant programs. "Move fast."

### MVP Ventures Round 3
- **Opens:** 9 March 2026 (15 days away)
- **Closes:** 5 April 2026
- **Amount:** $20K-$50K (Stream 1, 50% co-contribution)
- **Eligibility:** All criteria met ✅ except AirWallex ADI status needs checking ⚠️
- Drafted all three assessment criteria responses (Innovation, Commercialisation, Deliverability)
- Created 14-day action plan to be submission-ready by March 9
- **Michael needs to:** Source 1-2 Letters of Intent, check bank account ADI status

### TechVouchers (BBIP)
- **Amount:** Up to $50K matched funding
- **Applications:** Rolling (no deadline)
- **Requires:** Research partner collaboration (Uni of Sydney, UTS, or UNSW)
- Lower priority — start after MVP Ventures submitted

### Two Critical Items for Michael
1. 🔴 Letters of Intent from construction contacts (1-2 needed)
2. 🔴 AirWallex may not qualify as ADI — may need traditional bank account

### Potential Impact
$50K-$100K in grants = 6-12 years additional runway at current burn. Transformational.