-
Budgets Are Dead: Why Your Startup Needs a Financial Operating System
If your product iterates weekly, why is your budget still updated quarterly? The Problem With Traditional Budgets Let’s be honest. Most early-stage startup budgets sit in a Google Sheet, untouched after the board meeting. They’re based on assumptions that are outdated within a quarter, and they’re rarely used as a decision-making tool. This kind…
-
Think About AI: Not as a Product, But as Infrastructure
In the current buzz around AI, it’s easy to get caught up in the race to develop the next groundbreaking AI product. Startups everywhere are asking, “What’s our AI app?” or “How can we make AI our product?” But here’s the thing: For most early-stage startups, AI isn’t the product. It’s the infrastructure. If…
-
Howard Marks’ Warning: On Bubble Watch
At the beginning of this year, Howard Marks, the co-founder of Oaktree Capital, published a memo cautioning investors about potential bubbles in the current market. 25 years ago, he famously published Bubble.com which predicted the internet bubble. While his insights are widely followed in the financial world, they hold special significance for startup founders…
-
Introducing the Startup Finance AI Assistant
Over the past years, I’ve worked as a fractional CFO/FD, partnering with early-stage startups to navigate the complexities of fundraising, financial strategy, and planning. Today, I’m thrilled to share a pivotal moment in this journey: a shift to amplify financial expertise with tech innovation. This new approach bridges deep financial knowledge with the power…
-
Why December is the Best Month to Close VC Deals
As a fractional CFO specializing in fundraising preparation, I often hear founders ask whether it’s too late to close their funding rounds as the year comes to a close. Many assume that investor activity slows down during the holiday season. Surprisingly, the data tells a different story: December is one of the best months…
-
5 Tips on Budgeting in the Era of AI
In the fast-evolving financial landscape, AI-powered tools can enhance budgeting strategies for efficiency and precision. Here are five essential tips for building an adaptive budgeting process, along with tools to help you get started. 1. Leverage AI-Driven Forecasting for Smarter Budget Projections AI forecasting tools like Fathom and Anaplan offer advanced data analysis to…
-
Why Raising at a High Valuation Early On Isn’t Always a Good Idea
In the fast-paced world of startups, securing a high valuation can seem like the ultimate achievement. However, as “Silicon Valley” Season 2, Episode 1 so aptly illustrates, it’s not always the best strategy for long-term success. In this episode, Richard Hendricks and the Pied Piper team are faced with a dilemma: they receive an…
-
Five Tips For Building Effective Cash Flow Management
I remember one discovery call I had with an early-stage founder who, quite honestly, told me he does all of his cash flow analysis in his head. I admire the brain power, but it is not something you should rely on if you are aiming for accelerated growth. Here are five tips to set…
-
What Is a Fractional CFO?
As the world catches up on the fractional CXO trend, there is some confusion in the market. For example, it is often confused with an advisor role. Therefore I have decided to dedicate a long post on this topic. The concept of a fractional CFO (Chief Financial Officer) mostly exists in the startup and…
-
The Five Common Mistakes SMBs Make With Their Finances
Mismanaging finances is the number one reason small businesses fail. Without saying, ensuring the financial health of a SMB is crucial for its longevity and success. However, many SMBs fall into common traps that can jeopardize their operations. Here are the top five financial mistakes that SMBs often make: Not Keeping Up with Bookkeeping…