Glossary

Canadian tech terms, explained.

Clear definitions of the technical, financial, and policy terms used in Canadian tech.

Entries

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

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

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