Understanding Equity Valuation and Business Models

This episode does a deep dive into stock-based compensation (SBC) and employee equity. Joining CJ for this conversation is Curt Sigfstead, the CFO of Clio, a leading vertical software provider for legal firms. CJ and Curt unpack the complexities of SBC, examining its importance, evolution, and how to effectively communicate its value to potential hires and the organization as a whole. They cover the evolution of share types as a company scales and how finance leaders should budget for equity compensation. Then Curt provides a detailed walkthrough of Clio's recent fundraising process, highlighting the importance of meeting and beating financial targets to maintain investor confidence. You’ll also hear about building trust with everyone you work with and strategies for CFOs to empower founders to do their best work.

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SPONSORS:

Operators Guild is where the best CEOs, CFOs, VPs of finance, and BizOps leaders in the business connect, network, and grow together. Built by operators for operators, this members-only community is home to more than 1000 of the most elite high-growth operators in the world. Experience connection and knowledge share with professionals who understand you like no one else does. Learn more and apply at operators-guild.com.

Maxio is the only billing and financial operations platform that was purpose built for B2B SaaS. They're helping SaaS finance teams automate billing and revenue recognition, manage collections and payments, and put together investor grade reporting packages. 🚀 Request a demo at www.maxio.com/runthenumbers for 10% off your first year.

RemoFirst is a full-service Employer of Record solution that handles all your global employment needs. RemoFirst can help you navigate the maze of regulations and logistical challenges to onboard employees and contractors from anywhere in the world and streamline payroll, taxes, and compliances. Get two months free on EOR fees for your first hire in any country by visiting RemoFirst.com/metrics.

Mercury is the fintech ambitious companies use for banking and all their financial workflows. With a powerful bank account at the center of their operations, companies can make better financial decisions and ensure that every dollar spent aligns with company priorities. That's why over 100K startups choose Mercury to confidently run all their financial operations with the precision, control, and focus they need to operate at their best. Learn more at mercury.com.

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC.

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 40,000 companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅, head to NetSuite https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.

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@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(01:56) Sponsor – Operators Guild | Maxio

(04:47) Is Stock-Based Compensation Real?

(06:36) Why SBC Has Been Ignored for So Long

(11:39) SBC for Private Versus Public Companies

(13:05) The Mechanism by Which Employees Are Rewarded with Equity

(16:28) Sponsor – RemoFirst | Mercury | NetSuite

(19:52) Explaining the Potential Value of Equity to Prospective Hires

(23:18) Talking to the Organization About the Value of Equity

(26:09) Budgeting for Equity Compensation

(30:41) The Round That Clio Just Raised

(35:58) Strategies for Empowering Founders

(42:22) Filling the Trust Battery

(44:03) Meeting and Beating Your Numbers During a Fundraise

(49:31) Long-Ass Lightning Round: The Biggest Mistakes Curt Made

(53:06) Advice to Younger Self

(54:40) Finance Software Stack

(55:38) Craziest Expense Story