Fractional CFO for seed-stage startups
At seed the first institutional round is in the bank and the clock starts ticking on Series A metrics. The team is hiring, the burn rate steps up, and investors expect a monthly rhythm - board pack, KPI dashboard, runway view - that the CEO no longer has time to assemble from memory.
We build the operating model that investors will pressure-test at Series A, set up the FP&A cycle and the monthly board pack, and put a cohort and unit-economics framework around the business so growth is measured for efficiency, not just speed. We act as the finance partner the company is not yet ready to hire full-time.
Why seed-stage startups need a fractional CFO
Hiring a full-time CFO is a huge (and costly!) decision, and most advisors stuck in the 90s do not understand how a seed-stage business actually runs. We deliver actionable, no-BS advice tailored to your stage and the digital niche you operate in.
Operating model that drives the business
A seed model is not a forecasting exercise - it is the operating system for capital allocation. We build a driver-based model that connects pipeline to ARR, hiring to cost, retention to LTV, so every hiring decision, pricing experiment and capital request runs through the same numbers the board is looking at.
Monthly FP&A cycle that scales beyond the founders
Budget, forecast, actuals vs budget, variance commentary - the standard FP&A rhythm investors expect from Series A onwards. We stand it up at seed so the company is not retrofitting financial discipline 18 months later when the operating model has already drifted from reality.
Cohort, retention and unit-economics framework
By Series A the question stops being 'do you have growth?' and becomes 'is the growth efficient?'. We put cohort retention, payback period, LTV/CAC and contribution margin tracking in place at seed, so the Series A narrative is supported by 12 months of measured data rather than a last-minute analysis.
Cash and runway management as a board-level discipline
Cash discipline is what carries a seed company to Series A. We forecast burn weekly, model scenarios before the next ten hires are signed, and flag the runway cliff two quarters out - so the company has options on its next round rather than being forced into one on whatever terms are on the table.
Board pack that drives decisions, not status updates
Seed boards expect the rhythm of a Series B board - KPI dashboard, actuals vs budget, hiring plan, capital plan, key risks. We own the pack end-to-end so board time is spent on strategic decisions and capital allocation rather than rehashing the numbers.
Build the Series A narrative 12 months ahead
Successful Series A rounds start the day the seed round closes. We sharpen the financial story in the background, benchmark against the metrics Series A funds will compare you to, and make sure the data room and model are in a shape that survives institutional diligence on day one of the process.
Different growth phase?
We provide fractional CFO services across pre-seed, seed, Series A, growth-stage and PE-backed companies.
Fractional CFO for pre-seed startups
At pre-seed we translate the founder vision into a credible model, define the unit economics and KPIs that matter, and set the company up so the seed round is a continuation of the operating rhythm rather than a scramble.
Learn moreFractional CFO for Series A startups
At Series A we build the institutional-grade model, segment the P&L for capital allocation, run the board-pack rhythm with proper variance analysis, and prepare the company for Series B at least 12 months ahead of the raise.
Learn moreFractional CFO for growth-stage startups
At growth stage we run segment-level FP&A across multiple entities, scale planning beyond spreadsheets, manage debt and treasury actively, and keep the company optionality-ready for Series C, growth equity or strategic M&A.
Learn moreFractional CFO for PE-backed companies
For PE-backed companies we own the value-creation plan and sponsor reporting, drive EBITDA quality and cash conversion, manage debt actively, run bolt-on M&A end-to-end, and keep the company exit-ready throughout the hold period.
Learn moreWe provide fractional CFO services across the globe
Simple pricing
No hidden costs, no complicated long-term contracts. We understand how important flexibility is for 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.
Sector expertise
Explore our fractional CFO offering across a variety of tech sectors - relevant for seed-stage startups too.
Software
Vertical and horizontal SaaS, AI-native software products, infrastructure SaaS, cybersecurity
AI & ML
Foundation models, AI applications, AI infrastructure, semiconductors, AI consulting
Fintech
Neobanking, online payments, fintech infrastructure, lending platforms, wealth tech, online brokerage, vertical FS software
Consumer internet
Consumer software subscription platforms, edutech, online content, social networks, online dating
Digital media
Streaming platforms, mobile and console gaming, content distribution, digital publishing, VR & AR
E-commerce & marketplaces
Consumer and B2B marketplaces, inventory-based e-commerce, classifieds, lead generation platforms
Consumer products
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, consumer electronics, smart home devices, lifestyle products
Mobility
Ridesharing, micromobility, food delivery, logistics tech, autonomous tech, EV charging infrastructure
Digital health
Digital therapeutics, telemedicine, mental health solutions, EHR and practice management, vertical healthcare SaaS
Industrial technology
Industry 4.0 solutions, 3D printing, climate tech, industrial IoT, robotics, smart manufacturing
Digital infrastructure
Data centers, cloud infrastructure, edge computing, network security, vertical infrastructure SaaS
IT services
Software development and testing, digital transformation, cloud services, advertising agencies, IT support services
Bring your FP&A to the digital age
The world runs on Excel, but we like to keep up with the times.
We can enhance your financial reporting by using leading SaaS providers across the entire finance stack.
Stripe
Xero
Causal
Quickbooks
Datarails
Mosaic
Excel
Google Sheets
Adyen
Abacus
Runway
NetSuite
Salesforce
Sage
Shopify
Cube
HubSpot
Snowflake
Recently completed fractional CFO projects
Selected fractional CFO engagements and prior CFO experience.
Got questions?
Schedule a call ordrop us an email to learn more about our CFO-as-a-service, capital raising and M&A advisory offering.
Talk to us
Schedule a call to get a health check on your business and see how we could help.
Fractional CFO
- Fractional CFO for Software
- Fractional CFO for AI & ML
- Fractional CFO for Fintech
- Fractional CFO for Consumer internet
- Fractional CFO for Digital media
- Fractional CFO for E-commerce & marketplaces
- Fractional CFO for Consumer products
- Fractional CFO for Mobility
- Fractional CFO for Digital health
- Fractional CFO for Industrial technology
- Fractional CFO for Digital infrastructure
- Fractional CFO for IT services
Stages
Countries
- UK Fractional CFO
- Ireland Fractional CFO
- France Fractional CFO
- Germany Fractional CFO
- Spain Fractional CFO
- Portugal Fractional CFO
- Italy Fractional CFO
- Netherlands Fractional CFO
- Belgium Fractional CFO
- Switzerland Fractional CFO
- Austria Fractional CFO
- Denmark Fractional CFO
- Sweden Fractional CFO
- Norway Fractional CFO
- Finland Fractional CFO
- Poland Fractional CFO
- Estonia Fractional CFO
- US Fractional CFO
- Canada Fractional CFO
- Mexico Fractional CFO
- Brazil Fractional CFO
- UAE Fractional CFO
- Australia Fractional CFO
Cities
- London Fractional CFO
- Dublin Fractional CFO
- Paris Fractional CFO
- Berlin Fractional CFO
- Madrid Fractional CFO
- Lisbon Fractional CFO
- Milan Fractional CFO
- Amsterdam Fractional CFO
- Brussels Fractional CFO
- Zurich Fractional CFO
- Vienna Fractional CFO
- Copenhagen Fractional CFO
- Stockholm Fractional CFO
- Oslo Fractional CFO
- Helsinki Fractional CFO
- Warsaw Fractional CFO
- Tallinn Fractional CFO
- New York Fractional CFO
- Toronto Fractional CFO
- Mexico City Fractional CFO
- São Paulo Fractional CFO
- Dubai Fractional CFO
- Sydney Fractional CFO