Run the Numbers

Sarah Spoja, CFO of Tipalti and expert in private equity operations, discusses the evolving role of CFOs in high-growth environments. She explores M&A as a growth lever, emphasizing the importance of preserving company culture during mergers. Sarah highlights how CFOs can balance strategic oversight with hands-on work and the dual role of strategist and salesperson. With insights into investor relations and effective time management, she shares tips on navigating the complexities of scaling a startup, all while keeping the process engaging and lighthearted.

Dive into the fascinating world of Snowflake’s IPO, the largest in tech history, which sent stock prices soaring on its debut. Explore the company’s innovative cloud data warehousing and a unique pricing model that sparked intrigue. Discover the impact of leadership changes and financial strategies on Snowflake's success. Learn about the meritocratic approach that shaped its culture and the focus on customer success that revolutionized revenue metrics. Plus, uncover the pricing strategy that ultimately left billions on the table.

Georgy Egorov, CFO of ZeroAvia, shares his impressive journey from AI drug discovery to leading a clean aviation revolution with hydrogen-powered airplanes. He dives into the challenges of securing funding for climate tech and the significance of building competitive products. Georgy emphasizes the crucial role of risk management in startups, drawing on his banking background. He offers insights into investor communication, combating greenwashing, and humorous anecdotes about the quirks of business expenses, making for an engaging discussion on innovation and sustainability in aviation.

Bill Koefoed, CFO of OneStream Software, shares his expertise on navigating the complexities of an IPO. He recounts the thrill of their stock soaring 34% on debut despite market turbulence. Bill reflects on the strategic decisions made during the challenging roadshow and emphasizes the importance of investor relations. With a background in Microsoft's investor relations, he reveals lessons in transparency and resilience. Plus, he provides amusing anecdotes about quirky expense claims, adding a light-hearted touch to his insightful journey.

Adam Berg, CFO of Zero Hash, provides invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of financial services infrastructure, emphasizing the pivotal role of blockchain technology. He discusses the complexities of B2B2C business models and the critical challenges of liquidity management. Adam highlights how margin compression can harm end users while offering strategic advice for aspiring finance professionals. With humor, he shares anecdotes on outrageous company expenses, blending serious finance with light-hearted moments.

Ganapathy Subramaniam, CFO of TerraPay, dives into the intricacies of cross-border payments, highlighting challenges like high fees and inefficiencies. He discusses innovative digital solutions reshaping the payment landscape and emphasizes the importance of optimizing payment corridors, especially in regions like Africa and South Asia. Ganapathy also explores the evolving role of CFOs as strategic value creators and shares insights on currency exchange margins and the growing importance of digital wallets. His reflections offer a roadmap for finance leaders aiming to elevate their impact.

Scott Voss, Managing Director at HarbourVest, shares his expertise in private equity, focusing on secondaries, continuation vehicles, and sidecar funds. He discusses how HarbourVest identifies promising fund managers and the importance of private market access for diversified portfolios. Scott highlights trends in AI's impact on investments and delves into the complexities of succession planning in private equity. He also explains how continuation vehicles are evolving from distressed asset management to innovative growth opportunities, enhancing market liquidity.

Lily Yang, CFO of Strava, shares her expertise on the evolution of the platform from a cycling hub to a diverse fitness community with over 135 million users. She discusses Strava's innovative subscription model and the impact of brand partnerships, such as with Chipotle, on revenue growth. The conversation also covers retention strategies for subscription-based businesses, insights on gamification in fitness, and the significance of user achievements. Additionally, Lily reflects on her career challenges in finance, offering wisdom for aspiring professionals.

Kyle Poyar, author of Growth Unhinged and expert in pricing and product-led growth, dives into the shifting world of SaaS metrics shaped by AI. He challenges the relevance of annual recurring revenue as we transition to outcome-based pricing. The discussion highlights the rise of success-based pricing and how AI acts as a co-pilot for improved sales strategies. Poyar also explains the distinction between recurring and reoccurring revenue models, emphasizing the need for new metrics to guide CFOs and adapt to the evolving landscape.

Marc Greenberg, former VP of Finance & Strategy at Pixar and now CFO at Altruist, shares fascinating insights from his unique career. He discusses Pixar's complex budgeting process and the creative finance strategies that support storytelling. Greenberg reflects on the cultural impact of Pixar films and the innovative leadership during Disney's acquisition. He also explores the evolving role of CFOs in the AI era, blending financial operations with empathy and storytelling. Plus, he shares wild expense stories from the film industry!