The first priced round of financing is generally characterized by growing revenues, cash burn and scalability issues. This is the stage where institutional investors invest and most of them are eyeing an IPO/exit. There is a lack of meaningful historical data but projections are still important.

Sound communication through pitch decks and compiling a robust valuation model for the company builds credibility, trust and ensures more interest and enthusiasm from investors. Investing in scalable financial infrastructure and FP&A processes makes an organization long term resilient. Educated assumptions about the future driven by a deep understanding of the market and the ecosystem make the difference.

At this stage, there has to be just enough rigor and flexibility in this process so a finance process is an enabler and not a blocker.