I noticed a missed call and voicemail on my phone: a client called me back. I immediately listened to her message, “We haven’t had a response to our email in over a week!” An angry message solicited by Yours Truly. I immediately called back, knowing exactly what to say. “Pam, I understand that she’s not...
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, as the story of two startups unfolds under the watchful eye of Alex Sterling, a seasoned venture capitalist known for his strategic foresight and uncompromising pursuit of excellence. On one side is InnovateX, steered by the meticulous and introspective James Archer, a founder...
Under the cold, clinical glow of his office lights, I received the call that set the next challenge into motion—a biotech firm couldn’t get another round of funding after the FDA approval failed, buried under a mountain of debt and regulatory scrutiny. The voice on the other end was Jerri, a friendly Venture Capitalist I’d...
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...
In times when you’re constantly running out of runway in the dreaded zone of insolvency, and as a founder, you feel like making payroll is an impossible obstacle course every two weeks, understanding and managing every aspect of your startup’s cash flow and sales becomes a matter of survival. This is where a waterfall analysis...
Welcome to “Evaluating Your Startup Financial Health,” a four-part series where we dive deep into crucial financial strategies for startups. In this series, we’ll focus on making substantial financial cuts, vigilantly monitoring every dollar, and accelerating Accounts Receivable collections. In this first part, we tackle the critical task of stabilizing your startup’s cash flow. This...
As Dr. Doom, a Chief Restructuring Officer, I’ve faced many challenges, but the case of this chair company was particularly intriguing. The founder, an eccentric and brilliant architect, had combined his passion for design with the unparalleled craftsmanship of Amish artisans. Yet, his pursuit of perfection was leading the company to financial peril. It was...
Early in my career, I was lucky enough to experience the rise of the PC in Silicon Valley. I worked for a company called Optimal Communications, a phone company being launched with the likes of The Macintosh. At the time, Kleiner Perkins and IVP had invested, eager to join the PC race. On the finance...
As a Chief Restructuring Officer, I’ve seen many startups face the harsh reality of extended sales cycles, especially in challenging market conditions. Understand this: the strategies that brought you here may not get you through the next cycle. In times of economic uncertainty, both large and small companies tend to deliberate longer before making purchasing...
In the rollercoaster world of startups, encountering unforeseen challenges that threaten the company’s existence is not uncommon. When such crises loom, enlisting a Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) becomes not just a choice but a necessity. However, the role of a CRO is multifaceted, varying significantly based on whether they’re tasked with a company turnaround or...
