Product-market fit is that elusive state where your product not only meets market needs but does so in a way that resonates deeply with your users. Traditional markers of product-market fit, like rapid user growth or media attention, are lagging indicators. They tell you what has happened, not what’s going to happen. Many founders have...
Startup founder Jake Savvy returned from a board meeting excited and anxious; he’s about to prepare for a fundraiser as his runway may not last another year, and his growth is causing more burn. As he drives home, he thinks about his fundraising checklist: pitch deck? Check. List of investors? Check. Email blast to said...
As the competitive landscape of business intensifies, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role has evolved from managing numbers to playing a crucial role in strategic decision-making. One of the critical areas where CFOs make significant contributions is in assessing whether a company’s products or services are achieving product-market fit (PMF). Product-market fit occurs when a...
Tina, an intrepid founder with a software company, just received an offer from a big tech company for her start-up. In earnest, she asked me many questions about the contract, especially about a clause with earnouts. “All these KPI’s and numbers, are they achievable post-acquisition? I thought I’d sell and be done.” “Not so fast,”...
In the dynamic and often unpredictable world of startups, maintaining a healthy cash flow is crucial. One key component of this is managing accounts receivable efficiently and effectively. The goal is to ensure that you, as a founder, can recover debts in a manner that preserves customer relationships while bolstering your company’s financial health. Understanding...
As a CFO for startups, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial a thorough market analysis is for any company, especially during a turnaround. Understanding your competitive landscape can illuminate opportunities and threats crucial for your strategy. Conducting a market analysis provides clarity on where your startup stands in the competitive ecosystem. It helps identify market trends,...
As we approach 2024, many startup founders find themselves gazing nervously at a horizon clouded with economic uncertainty. If you’re one of those founders with only a year of runway left, the anxiety is understandable. As a CFO who has weathered the storms of both the 2000 dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis, I’ve...
As a Chief Restructuring Officer speaking directly to seed or Series A startup founders, let’s delve into a topic that should be at the forefront of your strategic planning: Product-Market Fit (PMF). In the startup world, PMF isn’t just a concept—it’s the indicator that your startup should scale and is the beginning of your next...
In 2008, the world changed in an instant. The markets fell, homeowners were left in the dust, banks disappeared, and startups faced a terrible future of very little capital. Today, startups are looking at some of these same challenges – capital is expensive, consumers are facing massive inflation, and fundraising is hard to come by....
It’s that time of year again, planning for the upcoming year, making assumptions and reporting to the higher-ups. Calculating the size of your market isn’t a one-time exercise for your pitch deck, its an annual planning metric that can change the way you view your Ideal Customer Profile, and help focus your marketing and sales...
