My journey in finance has led me from the distinct realm of venture capital to the dynamic world of startups and established corporations. As a VC, selecting potential winners was paramount, indicating the critical importance of financials in the success of both emerging and established businesses. The Challenges One thing that became increasingly clear: the […]
Facts vs. Fiction: How Finance Anchors Our Business Reality
A while ago, we were working with one of our clients, a B2C software company that was gearing up to scale a promising new product. Their strategy was ambitious: a product-led growth model based on the belief that the product’s significance and ease of use would naturally drive viral sales. The Reality Check Early analysis, […]
Navigating from B2C to B2B – A Client’s Journey to Success 🚀
We recently guided a client through a transformative journey, pivoting from a B2C to a B2B business model. B2C Challenges: A Mismatched Model Our client initially pursued a B2C approach with a promising product and a big market. However, our analysis revealed a stark mismatch: the product’s cost and customer acquisition expenses outweighed the consumers’ […]
Customer Retention: The Backbone of Long-Term Business Success
In business strategy, a crucial yet often undervalued aspect is customer retention. But what exactly does this metric reveal and why is it vital? Understanding Customer Retention Customer retention reflects your company’s ability to create lasting value and maintain profitable relationships over time. It’s about understanding and expanding customer needs, leading to increased purchases over […]
Pipeline Velocity: Accelerating Sales for Strategic Growth
In today’s fast-paced markets, understanding and optimizing your Pipeline Velocity is more critical than ever. But what exactly does this metric reveal and why is it vital? Understanding Pipeline Velocity Pipeline Velocity measures the speed at which leads move through your sales pipeline to become revenue-generating customers. It’s a powerful indicator of your sales process […]
Ending up in a Down Round Despite Your Best Efforts?
A down round, in which a company secures capital at a valuation lower than prior rounds, presents challenges yet also opens paths for stabilization and potential growth. Here’s a 6-step approach on how to lead them: 1. Preparation and Transparency Anticipate potential down rounds by realistically assessing your company’s valuation and being transparent about its […]
Navigating Startup Valuation: Strategies for Equity Preservation, Fair Valuation, and Speed 🚀
For startup founders, balancing the act of securing funding at a fair valuation without sacrificing too much equity is challenging. Below, I’ve summarized key strategies to deal with this topic effectively. Choosing the Right Investors Wisely Selecting the right investors for your startup is more than just securing capital—it’s about finding partners who align with […]
The Seed Funding Struggle: How to Navigate Investor Pressure
Not long ago, a growing startup on the verge of securing seed funding contacted us. You may wonder why they sought assistance when funding seemed nearly secured. The investment journey was turbulent. Strong investors, recognizing the company’s potential, offered substantial investment but with very high demands – the founders nearly gave away half of their […]
11 Strategies to Improve Your Liquidity
Liquidity is often overlooked in financial planning despite its importance in maintaining business operations. Managing liquidity can be especially challenging for growing companies, particularly given the additional investments required for scaling, such as funding inventory, hiring staff, and expanding infrastructure. This article explores 11 strategies to enhance liquidity and ensure your business remains operationally sound […]
Turning Metrics into Market Leadership: A Short Guide
Research shows that to scale and become a market leader, a company must excel in four building blocks: strategy, people, execution, and finances. What many tend to forget is that each of these factors is underpinned by a numerical dimension. During my time as an investment analyst, I evaluated each of these dimensions meticulously for […]