How big should my emergency fund be as a founder with unpredictable income?

Founder income is lumpy, so the usual "three to six months of expenses" often stretches to more like six to twelve, especially if you're not drawing a steady salary or your household depends on it. The point of this money isn't returns, it's that you never have to sell a long-term investment or take a bad deal because you're cornered. Keep it somewhere boring and quickly accessible: a savings account, a sweep-in fixed deposit, or a low-risk liquid or debt fund. Split it if you like, some instant-access, some slightly less. Don't chase yield here; a percent or two extra isn't worth the risk of it not being there when you need it. Interest and debt-fund gains are taxable and the rules change, so check current treatment with a CA. There's no perfect number, size it to how unpredictable your income and obligations actually are.