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...
As a Chief Restructuring Officer, I understand the panic that comes with a startup struggling to stay afloat when they’ve got six months left of runway and are unsure if they have product market fit. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but it’s crucial to recognize that the strategies that brought your startup to this point...
The Los Angeles skyline was a blend of sleek modernity and gritty realism, much like the business ventures it housed. In a nondescript warehouse in Downtown LA, luxury and ambition hung heavy in the air, alongside the scent of high-quality fabric. This was the domain of the Newtson Brothers, a pair of fashion entrepreneurs who...
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,...
There’s an old saying, “Cash is King“. In the dynamic world of startups, while product innovation often steals the limelight, the real unsung hero in the narrative of sustainable growth is effective cash flow management. As a startup founder, understanding and managing your cash flow is not just a financial practice; it’s a strategic imperative,...
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...
If you’re at the helm of a startup and hiring, onboarding, and managing (and sometimes choppy)1099s, this blog is for you. Today, let’s talk about a not-so-fun, but super-important topic: 1099 audit triggers 📑🧐. Understanding 1099s: The Basics First things first, a 1099 form is what you use to report income paid to a contractor...
As a Chief Restructuring Officer recently focused on turnarounds, I’ve worked with numerous startups grappling with the challenge of achieving and demonstrating product-market fit (PMF) to investors. For a struggling startup founder, this can seem like a daunting task. However, with the right approach and metrics, you can achieve PMF and effectively communicate this success...
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...
So, you’re thinking about bringing on interns? That’s great! Interns can inject some fresh energy and ideas into your startup. But there’s a lot to unpack about the intern game, especially around the myth of the ‘unpaid intern.’ Google “unpaid internship,” and most websites that pop up are law firms – ready to sue companies...
