Glossary

Learn the language of the signal.

Search technical, financial, and governance terms used across Boreal Signal coverage.

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All terms12Compute2AI systems2Hardware2Finance4Governance2
Glossary results
Finance3 Aliases

Procurement cycle

The path a buyer follows from evaluation to approval to purchase.

Definition
The procurement cycle is the series of steps a customer uses to evaluate vendors, negotiate terms, obtain approval, and place an order or sign a contract.
Why it matters
If a story depends on procurement, the timing of revenue often matters more than the announcement itself.
Aliases
RFPvendor selectionbuying cycle
Related signals
Public sectorEnterprise salesSovereign AI
Finance2 Aliases

Cap table

A snapshot of who owns what in a company.

Definition
A cap table is a record of ownership that shows founders, investors, option holders, and other stakeholders alongside their equity stakes.
Why it matters
Ownership structure shapes who controls the company, how future financing rounds work, and how exit value gets shared.
Aliases
capitalization tableownership table
Related signals
FundraisingFounder controlEquity
Finance1 Aliases

ARR

Annual recurring revenue from subscription-style contracts.

Definition
ARR stands for annual recurring revenue. It is a common metric for software and services businesses that sell repeatable contracts and want to show the expected revenue run-rate over a year.
Why it matters
ARR is a shorthand for scale and retention, but it only matters if the underlying revenue is durable and collectible.
Aliases
annual recurring revenue
Related signals
SaaSEnterprise revenueGrowth quality
Finance2 Aliases

Burn rate

How quickly a company is spending cash relative to its inflows.

Definition
Burn rate measures how much cash a company uses over a given period, usually a month. It helps readers understand how long the company can operate before needing new funding or positive cash flow.
Why it matters
A fast burn rate can change the meaning of a growth story if the runway is short or the capital plan is fragile.
Aliases
cash burnrunway
Related signals
FundraisingRunwayCapital efficiency