Financial Modelling & Fundraising Insights

D is for Development: the upside a buyer is really paying a premium for Over this series we've covered Record, Economics, and Ambition — your track record, your health today, and your forecast on the current trajectory. This final pillar, Development, is different. It's about the growth that isn't in your forecast yet — the upside a buyer is really paying a premium for. This is often where the real gap sits between “a fair price” and “a great price.” What buyers will be looki

Your historic financials and key metrics tell a buyer where you've been and where you stand today. Your forecast tells them where you're going and this is where a lot of founders lose credibility, not because the numbers are wrong, but because they can't be defended. A forecast isn't there to impress a buyer, it's there to survive being challenged by one. Here's what investors will actually look for; The assumptions, not just the output A buyer doesn't care that revenue hits

In the first post of this series, we covered Record — your historic financials, and what an FDD consultant looks for when they land on your numbers. But historics only tell a buyer where the business has been. Economics — your key operating metrics — tell them how healthy it actually is today. And they drive your valuation just as much as the P&L does. These metrics matter whether you run a subscription business, a consultancy, or anything in between with returning customers.

R is for Record: what your historic financials really tell a buyer If you're thinking about selling your business in the next year or two, the first thing any serious buyer will do is read your numbers. Not skim them — read them, the way a forensic accountant reads a contract. This is the first post in a four-part series on what we call the READY Framework: the four areas of a business that drive valuation in any sale process. We'll start with R — Record. Your historical fina

How to prepare your business for sale

When it comes to securing debt financing, having a solid financial model is your secret weapon. But what exactly makes a financial model effective for debt? How do you build one that not only impresses lenders but also guides your business decisions? Let’s dive into the world of debt-centric financial modeling strategies and uncover how you can set yourself up for success. Why raise debt at all? Debt can increase your equity value, avoiding dilution as a shareholder, and leve

The importance of monitoring key metrics

Scenario planning isn't pessimism. It's preparation — and it's one of the clearest signals of founder and CFO maturity. Most founders build one financial model. The optimistic one. The one that gets investors nodding, the one that tells the story you want to tell. If we're honest, it plays to your 'exited founder' side. There's nothing wrong with ambition baked into a model. But in my experience, the companies that last — the ones that pivot well, survive the hard patches, an

How to forecast a drug discovery business