Fractional CFO for automation & robotics companies
Robotics is in the middle of a model shift. Sale-and-integrate is being replaced - or topped up - by RaaS subscriptions bundling robot, integration, software and service into a monthly fee. The balance sheet starts holding deployed assets, deferred revenue grows, and cash detaches from booked revenue.
We set revenue policy that handles project-recognised hardware, milestone-based integration, recurring software and RaaS bundles distinctly, model the cash impact of carrying robots on balance sheet, and build operator dashboards around units deployed, uptime, customer payback and service attach. Long lead times and supplier prepayments are tracked as live working-capital exposure.
Flow provides financial modelling, FP&A and fractional CFO advisory to automation and robotics companies across industrial and collaborative robotics, warehouse and logistics automation, integrators and system houses, machine-vision and end-of-arm tooling, and service and humanoid platforms. Startup CFO support runs from first RaaS pilots through scale.
KPIs to track for "automation & robotics" startups
We're very 'KPI-driven' fractional CFOs, and we make sure to monitor the right metrics for your startup.
Units deployed
Installed base uptime
Customer payback period
Hardware gross margin
Service attach rate
RaaS / software ARR
Recurring revenue mix
Manufacturing lead time
Bookings & backlog
Warranty reserve %
Net retention
Financial modelling for "automation & robotics" startups
As fractional CFOs, we build KPI-driven financial models that are insightful and easy to maintain.
Financial modelling is both art and science - models must be robust, but also understandable, and useful for both internal planning and VC fundraising purposes. Hire a fractional CFO who knows how to handle both sides of the equation.
RaaS vs sale-and-integrate mix
Sold units, RaaS deployments and integration-fee projects modelled side by side, with monthly RaaS fees building deferred revenue and capitalised robot assets on the balance sheet. Makes the cash drag of the RaaS shift visible months before it shows up in the bank balance.
Unit economics and payback
Per-robot revenue, service and software take, BoM, integration cost and customer payback period modelled as a single fleet cohort view. Tells the board whether RaaS deployments are profitable at the unit level before the next deployment wave is funded.
BoM, lead times and supplier prepayments
Motors, drives, sensors, vision modules and end-effectors tracked at part level with lead times, single-source flags and supplier deposit schedules. Quantifies how a controller or harmonic-drive constraint pushes deliveries and cash receipts out by quarter.
Bookings, backlog and deployment schedule
Signed RaaS contracts and hardware POs translated into a deployment plan against manufacturing slots and integrator capacity. Surfaces whether revenue growth is constrained by demand, build capacity or field-deployment teams.
Installed-base uptime and service attach
Active fleet projected by vintage, with uptime, service attach rate and warranty events driving recurring revenue and reserve assumptions. Catches a deteriorating field cohort before it shows up in churn or warranty blowouts.
Capital structure for RaaS assets
Equity, equipment finance and venture debt scenarios run against capitalised robot deployments, with covenant tests against ARR and EBITDA. Shows when balance-sheet financing makes RaaS scaling feasible without burning equity on tin.
Founders and investors we've worked with
We've supported winning builders across automation & robotics and beyond.
Percepto
As a fractional CFO we performed a confidential valuation of Percepto, a Tel Aviv-based autonomous drone monitoring platform for critical infrastructure and industrial sites, supporting Elevator Fund's portfolio management.
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Hector
We acted as fractional CFO to Hector Aurumi, a Dubai-based specialist software house with AI/ML, IoT and data science expertise, providing confidential valuation guidance to the management team.
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TBô
We acted as fractional CFO to TBô, a Zurich-based tech-enabled DTC male underwear brand, building a bottom-up financial / operating model with cohort-level KPIs and positioning the company for its next venture round.
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Onlogist
We acted as fractional CFO to Onlogist, a Hamburg-based online marketplace for last-mile vehicle transfer, providing confidential valuation guidance and operating model support.
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Marcura
We acted as fractional CFO to Dubai-based Marcura, owner of maritime payroll and B2B payments platform MarTrust, advising on the strategic e-Wallet vendor selection and supporting product/finance integration.
See moreRecent fractional CFO track record
See our fractional CFO and financial modelling experience across automation & robotics and beyond.
Simple pricing
No hidden costs, no complicated long-term contracts. We understand how important flexibility is for automation & robotics startups.
Per month
- Accounting / FP&A tech stack implementation
- Monthly financial statements and reporting pack
- Quarterly board pack with detailed financial analysis (with variance analysis vs. budget, relevant KPI observations etc.)
- Investor-friendly output
Per month
- Everything in Core, plus
- Operating model (via an online platform like Runway or Excel-based)
- Ongoing model maintenance, refining projections, burn/runway management
- Customer cohorts modelling, churn and retention analysis
- LTV / CAC, unit economics analysis
- Cap table management
Per month
- Everything in Grow, plus
- M&A / fundraising support; review of business plan
- Pitch deck preparation
- Investor approach strategy / list building
- Due diligence support and deal negotiation
- Valuation as required and free access to Multiples Pro
Packages shown are illustrative, final pricing is tailored to client requirements.
Explore our fractional CFO offering for similar verticals
We're a specialized fractional CFO to industrial technology companies.
Our fractional CFO experience spans across all industrial technology verticals.
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We provide fractional CFO services to companies operating across the entire tech.
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We help you scale by providing fractional CFO advice, through fundraising and a successful M&A exit.
VC fundraising for automation & robotics companies
We help you prepare materials, reach out to investors in our extensive network, negotiate fair term sheets and structure the VC round.
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