The Scale-Up CFO
The book that had to be written, because leading finance in a scale-up is different, and unlike anything anyone ever told you.
There are six parts, each tackling a key challenge you'll face as a CFO in a growing, fast-moving scale-up. The structure follows a logical flow, from defining your role to driving innovation, but you don’t need to read it in that order front to back.
A Seasoned CFO’s Take
The first time I joined a scale-up, I brought all my corporate finance experience with me, and most of it didn’t fit. Things moved faster than our spreadsheets, founders made gut calls that defied logic but somehow worked, and there was never enough time, structure, or clarity.
A Founder’s Perspective
At some point, usually around 30 people or €3 million ARR, you realise you can’t wing it any more. You need real numbers, real structure, and a finance person who gets your business. Not someone who slows you down, but someone who helps you move faster with more confidence.
From an Investor’s Lens
We’ve backed dozens of companies. The difference between the ones that break through and the ones that break down? Often, it is finance. Not the sophistication of the Excel model, but the quality of decisions, the discipline in execution, and the ability to translate numbers into action.