Startup Burn Rate Explained
One of the most important concepts for startup founders to understand is burn rate.
Startups are designed to grow quickly, often investing heavily in product development, hiring and customer acquisition before the business becomes profitable. That growth requires capital — whether from investors, revenue or the founders themselves. Burn rate measures how quickly a company is spending that capital.
What Is ARR in SaaS?
If you spend any time in the startup ecosystem, particularly around software companies, you’ll frequently hear one acronym mentioned more than almost any other: ARR.
ARR, or Annual Recurring Revenue, is one of the most important metrics used to measure the growth of subscription-based businesses.
Startup Financial Metrics Every Founder Should Know
Building a startup is often driven by product vision, innovation and speed. Founders spend enormous amounts of time thinking about product development, hiring, distribution and customer growth.
But behind every successful company sits a set of financial metrics that reveal whether the business is actually working. Understanding these metrics allows founders to make better strategic decisions, communicate effectively with investors and build companies that can grow sustainably over time.
What Does a Startup CFO Actually Do?
When people think about startup leadership, they usually picture founders, product teams or engineers. Finance is rarely the first thing that comes to mind.
But as startups begin to grow, the role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) becomes increasingly important. The best startup CFOs are collaborative, strategic, and essential for success. A strong CFO can help founders navigate everything from fundraising to operational scaling and long-term strategy.
Why Distribution Often Matters More Than Funding
There is a tendency in the startup ecosystem to focus heavily on funding announcements. While capital can accelerate growth, it rarely creates a sustainable business on its own.
What often matters far more is distribution.
Lessons from Eight Years as a Technology CFO
The role of a CFO inside a growing technology company is often misunderstood. It’s not just about reporting numbers or managing budgets. In fast-growing businesses, finance sits close to some of the most important strategic decisions a company makes.
After eight years working as a CFO in technology, a few lessons stand out.
What I Look for in Early-Stage Founders
Early-stage companies are inherently uncertain. Markets evolve, products change, and strategies are refined over time. What matters most in the early days is not perfect execution, but the quality of the founder building the company.
Over time I’ve come to focus on a few characteristics that consistently appear in strong founders.