The FinanceWalls Podcast delivers deep dives into startup finance with CFOs, founders, and investors. Real stories behind the numbers, practical insights for every stage of your company's growth.
We cover SaaS unit economics, cash flow management, depreciation, cap tables, fundraising, and the financial fundamentals every founder needs to master. New episodes every week — perfect for your commute or morning run.
Twenty-three episodes. Twenty-seven articles. Six months of startup finance — and this is where Season 1 ends. In this season finale, Dorival, Jane & Jake, steps back from the individual topics and looks at the full arc of what FinanceWalls has been building toward: a complete financial operatin...
Part 1 answered the strategic question: is this business model worth building? Part 2 answers the operational one: how long is your cash at risk, where are the regulatory landmines, and which dial do you turn first when the numbers aren't where they need to be?The CAC Payback Period is the metri...
Most SaaS companies know their MRR. Far fewer know what it actually costs to generate it — or whether the economics behind each new customer are building value or quietly eroding it.That gap is where businesses go wrong. Unit economics forces the question into the open: for every dollar deployed to ...
Most founders walk into their first board meeting with the wrong mental model. They've spent weeks assembling comprehensive financials—revenue by segment, headcount detail, burn by cost center—and present it thoroughly. Completely. Exhaustively.The board nods. A few questions get asked. Nothing ...
You've built a financial model. You've run the numbers. You're confident. Then an investor asks: "How many sales reps do you need to hit this revenue target?" You realize you have no idea. Your model has an output but no argument.This is the moment most startup financial models...
If your software saves a marketing team 20 hours a month at an $80 loaded hourly cost, you've created $1,600 in monthly value. So why are so many SaaS founders charging $40? In this episode, Dorival Giannoni unpacks the psychology and mechanics of SaaS underpricing — and lays out a practical 60-...
The best exits don't happen when founders decide to sell. They happen when founders have already built something a buyer can't afford to walk away from.Most founders treat M&A readiness as a pre-sale project — something to scramble through once an LOI lands on the table. That's exact...
J.P. Morgan puts recession probability at 60%. The IMF calls this a "critical juncture." Nearly 70% of global executives expect a downturn in 2025–2026. So what does that actually mean for your startup — and what should you be doing about it?In this episode, we break down the economic land...
You're sitting across from an investor. They ask: "So what valuation are you thinking?" You have a number ready—you saw it in a TechCrunch headline about a company that sounds roughly like yours. It felt defensible until this exact moment. Now you realize: you have no idea how that number was actual...
You didn't start a company planning to get blindsided by the CRA, lose a $50,000 deal to a paper cheque, or spend four days chasing a wire transfer while payroll crept closer. But it happened anyway — because the financial operating system of an early-stage startup is genuinely unintuitive, and ...
Twenty-nine percent of startups fail from cash mismanagement. But there is a quieter failure mode that never makes the headline count: the Series B that died in due diligence because the acquirer could not reconcile three months of revenue. The seed-funded team where the founding engineer was the on...
Most founders sign their first term sheet before they fully understand what a cap table is. By the time they do, it's already doing things to their ownership that can't be undone.The capitalization table isn't administrative paperwork — it's the document that determines who owns your...
Your burn rate is a lagging indicator. By the time it signals trouble, you're already weeks away from hitting a wall. For an early-stage startup, the most dangerous threat isn't the competition—it's the cash crisis you don't see coming.In this episode, we break down the single most i...
You just landed a $50K annual contract. The check cleared. Your bank account looks amazing. But your accountant is panicking. Why?Because prepaid revenue isn't actually revenue—at least not yet. And if you don't understand how prepaid products work, you're about to make some very expensi...
Here's the million-dollar question most founders don't think about until it's too late: What happens to your financial statements when you expand internationally? This episode tackles the strategic choice between IFRS and U.S. GAAP that can determine your fundraising costs, IPO readiness...
In this comprehensive episode, we dive deep into the critical world of SaaS startup budgeting—where financial discipline meets growth ambition. Unlike traditional businesses, SaaS companies face unique challenges: high upfront development costs, recurring revenue models, and the delicate balance bet...
You signed the term sheet. Champagne's flowing. But you haven't won yet. One messy spreadsheet can kill your deal. Here's why due diligence is the real test.The term sheet isn't the finish line—it's the starting gun for the most dangerous phase. The period between signing and receiving money is "the...
Think Airbnb, Vrbo, Turo is passive income? Think again. We break down why 36% of the workforce chasing the shared economy dream are facing hidden costs, tax bombs, and burnout.
You just landed a $52,000 annual subscription deal. The money hits your bank account. You're celebrating. But your accountant tells you that you can only recognize $4,333 in revenue this month. Wait, what?Welcome to one of the most confusing—and critical—concepts in SaaS finance: the difference betw...
Think accounting is just for tax season? Think again. In this episode, we uncover why "boring" concepts like Depreciation and Amortization (D&A) are actually powerful strategic tools for founders. From Oracle's AI server controversy to Meta's billion-dollar adjustments, we explain how managing a...
In this final episode of our SaaS KPI series, we shift focus from growth to longevity. We explore the critical metrics that determine whether your startup survives the long haul: Gross Margin, Cash Burn, and Runway. Learn how to accurately define Cost of Revenue, manage seasonal spending fluctuation...
In this second episode of the KPIs for SaaS Series, you'll find three thoughtfully crafted sections, each highlighting the essential KPIs that truly matter for SaaS startups. Today, we’ll explore Growth - ARR/MRR, CAC and Churn Rate, providing a straightforward framework alongside practical, real-wo...
In this first episode of the KPIs for SaaS Series, you'll find three thoughtfully crafted sections, each highlighting the essential KPIs that truly matter for SaaS startups. Inspired by the insightful article from FinanceWalls.com, we’ll explore The Efficiency Engine: Mastering LTV and NRR for Susta...
Dive into the world of financial statements with our engaging episode, “The Silent Killer: How Misreading Financial Statements Destroys Startups.” Inspired by the insightful article from FinanceWalls.com, this discussion breaks down complex concepts into plain English, revealing the essential action...
Subscribe to the FinanceWalls Podcast on Spotify to never miss an episode. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.