Published inThe Startup·PinnedStartup Operating Models: The Secret behind Growth CompaniesThere has been a noticeable shift in venture capital and financial markets more broadly. In speaking with investors across Europe and the US this year, it is apparent that investment focus is shifting away from highly experimental and capital-intensive startups in favour of businesses that demonstrate proven economics and more…Startup Lessons2 min readStartup Lessons2 min read
Published inThe Startup·Oct 27, 2020Enabling Startup Agility And Predictable Growth using Financial SprintsStartups by their very nature are designed for growth, but a series of recent high profile startup failures has demonstrated the perils of a “growth at all costs” mentality and approach. As the world shifts towards cash preservation and more cautious decision-making, businesses have needed to adapt very quickly and…Agility2 min readAgility2 min read
Sep 23, 2020Enabling Predictable Growth: The Role of Finance and Operations in a StartupAutumn is upon us and it is the last 7 days of Q3. With Q4 around the corner and 2021 planning underway, I wanted to share some thoughts on an important yet infrequently covered topic. One of the desired (and necessary) outcomes of the past 8 months is that the…Role Of Cfo3 min readRole Of Cfo3 min read
Jul 23, 2020So what are you fundraising for?The last article discussed how a B2B software startup could build relationships with potential investors by emphasizing in the same manner it would with prospective customers. Make their jobs easier to win them over. To continue this theme and topics discussed in Key Tips for a Successful Fundraise and The…European Startups4 min readEuropean Startups4 min read
Jun 9, 2020Key Tips for a Successful FundraiseThere are generally two schools of thought when it comes to raising external capital: “Always be raising” or “heads down” focus on growth and execution. I lean towards the latter. It is interesting to observe what is happening in the financial markets these days, in light of the social and…B2b Software4 min readB2b Software4 min read
Jun 2, 2020Pegafund: Financial Roadmap to Scale and Predictable GrowthI am very excited to share with you Pegafund which provides a strategic growth CFO to seed to pre-Series B European B2B software startups varying in size from 20 to 100 FTEs. Our mission is to help founders enable predictable growth and global go-to market success.European Tech6 min readEuropean Tech6 min read
May 12, 2020The Inherent Friction between Founders, VCs, and Venture DebtIn the world of venture and B2B software startups, we often hear or read about a company raising “X” million at “Y” million valuation which is “Z” multiple of ARR. What does the valuation really mean? This article will explain the distinction between Enterprise Value and Equity Value, and how…Venture Capital5 min readVenture Capital5 min read
Apr 24, 2020Pulse and Predictions: Venture DebtIt was June 2007 and I was a wide-eyed 19 year old summer intern working at GE Commercial Finance* in Toronto. In hindsight, the world was also naive at the time thinking that a slowdown in the mortgage market would only last 6 months. Fast forward to Spring 2010 when…Venture Debt4 min readVenture Debt4 min read
Apr 17, 2020Resources to Build Resiliency for European StartupsSix weeks of social distancing and an Easter long weekend has provided ample time for reading and reflection. As we transition from fear to learning and growth, I wanted to share some insights, articles and resources that I have found valuable. This post will cover the following topics: Role of…European Tech5 min readEuropean Tech5 min read
Apr 5, 2020Survival Checklist for B2B Software StartupsMarch has not been an easy month — to say that is an understatement. I have had several close friends become ill though thankfully all, except one, have fully recovered. What is appalling is the rhetoric of political leaders that debate the trade-off between the well-being of its citizens and…European Tech4 min readEuropean Tech4 min read
