Tammy Martin

Advisory boards have been pivotal throughout my career, and this new report from the Boardstream team is a must-read. It’s packed with actionable insights on how to build and leverage an advisory board that truly drives impact and growth. Well done, Evan Kraut and Marina Ilishaev! 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPTAS4-Y #AdvisoryBoards #CAB #Leadership #Boardstream #WhitePaper

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At TechNexus Venture Collaborative, one of the most common questions we receive from our corporate partners is "How can we measure success?" Corporations track metrics, OKRs, and KPIs across all business lines, and corporate venture capital and innovation need not be an exception. If you're interested in learning more about strategic and financial returns in corporate venture capital, read the latest in our series below!

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Team, Market Size, Technology, and Product-Market fit are key criteria VCs assess to evaluate an opportunity. An often-overlooked aspect in team assessment is their Sense of Urgency or, GSD. This cultural advantage, inspired from the top, can turn an average opportunity into a significant win. The FastCompany article below gives ideas on how leaders can inspire their teams to adopt a GSD Mentality. #VC #Technology #Opportunity #GSD

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Last week, we shared the first part (1/2) of our perspectives on vertical SaaS (vSaaS), more specifically on which metrics define the performance of vSaaS businesses and outlining the benchmarks for each of these metrics. If you have not yet read the piece, give it a read here - https://lnkd.in/d94n2bgN This week we published the second part (2/2) where we call out certain strategies deployed by successful vSaaS companies like Procore Technologies Toast ServiceNow Zenoti and others that can be used to improve the metrics that matter. Read on to layer the numbers with the strats- https://lnkd.in/dPkmWFax Do reach out if you are building in the space or want to exchange notes / feedback on the perspectives. #fintech #verticaSaaS #embeddedfinance #investments

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With the influx of AI-powered technology in organizations of all industries, here's a timely reminder for all business leaders: Prioritizing AI literacy and change management is key to unlocking the true potential of technology investments, AI or not. Chief Financial Officers have a unique role in ensuring employees are using AI to increase efficiency and productivity, with responsibility and compliance top of mind. Seismic's Kerry Ryan elaborates on this in CFO Dive. Read more:

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Q3 is out and Q4 is in!  This is a great read about Base10's strategic switch showcasing how Carta is simplifying fund administration for emerging managers, which is especially important now rolling into the year-end busy season. 

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Want to make your business more attractive to buyers? Focus on one thing: Recurring Revenue. Recurring revenue isn’t just another income stream—it’s the backbone of long-term success. According to a Forbes study, businesses with strong recurring revenue, especially SaaS companies, are seeing 3x higher valuations compared to those dependent on one-off sales. As discussed in the Forbes Tech Council, despite the SaaS development challenges in 2024, companies focusing on subscription models and long-term contracts are leading the way. Here’s why: Stable Cash Flow: Recurring revenue gives you consistent income, which translates to peace of mind. Enhanced Valuation: Buyers love businesses with predictable revenue—they see lower risk. Customer Retention: Strong recurring revenue often reflects deeper customer loyalty and long-term relationships. Curious about how recurring revenue can boost your business’s value? Let’s chat. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDct67gU #BusinessGrowth #RecurringRevenue #SaaS #Valuation #FinancialSuccess #Forbes #PGAdvisors #ForbesTechCouncil #ProfitandGrowth

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We love seeing founders be able to keep their equity and take advantage of non-dilutive funding sources⚒️. We're excited to collaborate with Stacy Chin, PhD leader of KeepYourEquity.co, who has secured over $15M in SBIR/STTR grants for startups across various sectors. She's written a guest blog post sharing her insights on navigating the competitive landscape of grant funding 💰. Some highlights: ❇️ Understanding SBIR/STTR: A lifeline for startups, offering up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding! ⏺️ Learning how to overcome hurdles and capitalize on the golden opportunity. ❇️ Gaining essential tips on outlining your go-to-market strategy, choosing the right program, and preparing thoroughly. ⏺️ Benefiting from Stacy Chin's 10+ years of grant writing experience and her extensive track record in securing funding for startups. Read More in the blog post linked in the comment below 👇🏾 #SBIR #STTR #GrantFunding #StartupSuccess #SmallBusiness #KeepYourEquityCo #ShayCPA #cpafirm #techaccountants #startupaccountants #techstartup #techcompany #nondilutivefunding

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Acquisitions are an exciting, often nerve-wracking step in a business's journey. They signal growth, success, and the promise of something greater but also demand preparation. Signs You Might Be Ready: 1️⃣🟢 Strong Financial Records: One of the most telling signs that you're ready for acquisition is having organized, reliable financial records. A potential buyer will want to see a clear picture of your company's financial health, including revenue, expenses, liabilities, and profitability. If discrepancies exist between your accounting records and operational contracts, you may need assistance to get your books in order. Missing stock option entries, unrecorded leases, or misplaced contracts can be significant red flags during the acquisition process. 2️⃣🟢 Sufficient Data Room: Another indicator of readiness is having a well-constructed data room. A data room contains all relevant documents that a prospective buyer might want to review, such as contracts, financial statements, tax returns, and corporate records. Ensuring all contracts are appropriately manifested and all liabilities are accounted for is crucial. Buyers may use any lack of documentation against you during negotiations. 3️⃣🟢 Aligned Departments: Often, when businesses are running at full speed, internal miscommunication can occur, especially between sales, executives, and accounting. If your sales team has closed deals or executives have made compensation promises that aren't communicated to accounting, your financial records could be incomplete. Aligning these departments is critical to presenting a united and accurate financial story to potential buyers. Steps to Prepare for Acquisition: 1️⃣🛠️ Identify Gaps: Start by identifying gaps in your financial records or processes that might impact your valuation. This can include everything from discrepancies in revenue recognition to improperly amortized loans. Addressing these gaps is essential for ensuring your financials are rock solid and won't cause issues during negotiations. 2️⃣🛠️ Clean Up Liabilities: Make sure any accruals, such as lease liabilities or employee benefits, are fully recognized in your financials. Buyers often scrutinize liabilities, and anything that isn't properly documented could become a point of contention. The goal is to leave no surprises for potential buyers. 3️⃣🛠️ Document Everything: Proper documentation is critical. Make sure every contract, lease, guarantee, and compensation promise is accurately recorded and included in the data room. Buyers are thorough in their due diligence, and missing information can make them question the integrity of your business. Acquisition preparation is about more than having strong sales or a promising product. It requires airtight financial records, complete documentation, and a thorough understanding of your business's agreements and implied risks. Address these areas before acquisition discussions to ensure the best outcome.

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May is when many private companies finalize mid-year comp plans 💵 Need a reliable 409A valuation? Or has it been over a year since your last? We've got you covered! Scalar's 409A valuations keep you compliant, protect employees from tax penalties, and come with a team that supports you all the way through an audit. https://lnkd.in/gs_CtPNS

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As we approach year-end, here's a helpful guide for General Partners and Limited Partners explaining: - What gets taxed? - What isn't taxed? - Scheduling K-1s - How venture fund earnings are taxed - VC fund write-offs - How Carta can help Check it out below (it's a quick read)!

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Series A or B wondering when to bring in a VP of Finance or CFO? It’s a crucial decision that can shape the future of your company. At this stage, financial leadership is not just about managing numbers but also scaling processes, securing funding, and driving strategic growth. My colleague Paul breaks down key signs that it’s time to hire and indicators for choosing between VP of Finance and a CFO #FinanceLeadership #CFO #StartupGrowth #SeriesA #SeriesB #NextGenLeadership

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When change is the only the constant, the ability to be "in" the turbulence without letting it overtake you is vital for success. This guide from Wharton offers some excellent advice for navigating uncertainty by strategically managing workloads and priorities. It stresses the importance of maintaining a sustainable pace, making for breaks in the action and rest. Most notably, it suggests creating a list of "anti-goals" that encourages you identify what you can reasonably accomplish and avoid stretching yourself beyond your limits. #Leadership #ChangeManagement #Wellbeing

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🌱 For founders taking on venture debt, covenants are the fine print you cannot afford to ignore. 📃 They set the boundaries for how you can operate and manage your company’s finances. If you don’t play by these rules, the consequences can be pretty dire. It’s all about negotiating terms that align with your startup’s financial health. Be sure to read the original post by Kruze Consulting to get the full breakdown. Link in the 1st comment. 👇 #StartupFinance

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Here is an article I put together that helps explain indemnification. Indemnification is one of the most misunderstood and negotiated topics in corporate and commercial agreements. This article helps demystify indemnification (in the context of technology transactions) for business professionals.

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The Information has a tremendous behind-the-scenes article about how OpenAI can raise spectacular amounts of funding, including the $6.5B on tap over the coming days, at ever-higher valuations. It is a fantastic read for any #CFO and #CEO trying to replicate it. The short answer is not what you would think: #technology, and more about #credibility #revenuegrowth and Sarah Friar, OpenAI's CFO, and keeping the story straightforward. What do you think? #management #venturecapital #privateequity #capitalmarkets #aifinance https://lnkd.in/gVUfZxDx

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If you enjoyed our first blog on the metrics that matter for Verticalized SaaS then don't miss on the Part II of the series where my colleagues Devraj Hom Roy and Matt Schaar discuss the strategic and operational choices to improve these operational indicators. https://lnkd.in/g5QkCrcH

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What Boards talk about is important, what they don't talk about maybe more so as it has undue influence on outcomes. Reviewing the Sales Model versus just the outcomes creates failure points in scaling. Or, letting the technical debt accumulate to the point of crisis courts disaster. Establishing a cadence of meeting subjects keeps things from being overlooked and unaddressed.

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Too many small and mid-sized businesses struggle with capital constraints out of fear and misunderstanding. Sourcing the capital required to remove those constraints is key to unlocking the value creation potential of these companies. https://lnkd.in/gRYTKEmN #smallbusiness #businesstransformation

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