Run the Numbers

Nov 21 2024 115 ep. 51 mins 9
Run the Numbers Podcast artwork

Run the Numbers is a twice-weekly podcast about financial metrics and business models, designed for ambitious people operating tech startups. It's a collection of things host CJ Gustafson (CFO at Partstech and writer of Mostly Metrics) has learned and thought about in the trenches as a tech CFO. This show is meant to serve as a playbook of sorts for the stuff CJ wishes he knew earlier in his career, both from experience and from copying people smarter than himself. Topics frequently touch upon Startup SaaS Metrics, Annual Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Headcount, Equity, Dilution, and Fundraising – and how all of these drive business performance and growth.

www.mostlymetrics.com

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The Largest Software IPO Ever: How Snowflake Still Left Money on the Table

Nov 21 2024 31 mins  
In this solo episode, CJ experiments with a new format called S-1 Cinema as he delves into the intricacies of Snowflake’s remarkable IPO which debuted on September 16, 2020. Excluding social media giants like Facebook and Snap Inc., it stands as the biggest software IPO to date, marked by an explosive stock price jump that surpassed its already high issue price. CJ unpacks Snowfl

Risk, Reward, and Revolution: Financing The Clean Future of Flight with ZeroAvia's Georgy Egorov

Nov 18 2024 53 mins  
In this episode, CJ interviews Georgy Egorov, CFO of ZeroAvia, who shares his journey from pioneering AI drug discovery to co-inventing a Covid vaccine, and now leading the charge toward zero-emission aviation with hydrogen-powered airplanes. They talk about the complexities of getting funding for a climate tech company and the need for these products to outperform traditional opti

The Art and Science of a Day-One IPO Pop with OneStream Software CFO Bill Koefoed

Nov 14 2024 52 mins  
Bill Koefoed, CFO of OneStream Software, sits down with CJ for an in-depth look at the company’s recent IPO journey. Bill sheds light on the events that resulted in OneStream's stock soaring from $20 to $27, a 34% leap, on day one despite market uncertainties. He shares insights on the decision-making process leading up to going public, the challenges faced during their roadshow,

The New Backbone of Finance: Zero Hash's Adam Berg on Financial Services Infrastructure and Crypto

Nov 11 2024 54 mins  
In this episode, CJ interviews Adam Berg, CFO of Zero Hash, about the evolution of financial services infrastructure and the role of crypto in accelerating this change. With Zero Hash’s clients including the likes of Stripe, Interactive Brokers, Franklin Templeton, Shift4, and BlackRock, Adam discusses the importance of blockchain, not just as an asset class but as a fundamental

Unpacking the Future of Global Payments with TerraPay’s CFO Ganapathy Subramaniam

Nov 07 2024 47 mins  
Ganapathy Subramaniam, CFO of TerraPay, joins CJ for a deep dive into the complex world of cross-border payments. Together they unpack the complexities of moving money internationally, such as high fees, slow processing times, and the lack of transparency. Ganapathy sheds light on the global payment landscape, highlighting key transaction corridors and the wallet share of different

Secondaries, Continuation Vehicles, and Sidecar Funds: Private Equity with HarbourVest’s Scott Voss

Nov 04 2024 51 mins  
Scott Voss, Managing Director of Boston’s preeminent private markets firm HarbourVest, joins CJ for an in-depth exploration of secondaries, continuation vehicles, and sidecar funds. Scott starts by outlining HarbourVest's value proposition and investment strategies, covering primary investments, secondaries, and direct co-investments while underscoring the importance of private m

Monetizing Community Engagement: The Business of Fitness with Strava CFO Lily Yang

Oct 28 2024 51 mins  
In this episode, CJ Gustafson interviews Lily Yang, CFO of Strava, to delve into the company's business model, growth strategies, and the role of community engagement in driving user retention. They discuss how Strava's business model has evolved as they've moved into diverse activities, demographics, and countries. Lily sheds light on Strava’s growing revenue streams and the imp

Is ARR Dead? SaaS Metrics in the Age of AI with Kyle Poyar of Growth Unhinged

Oct 24 2024 55 mins  
Kyle Poyar, author of Growth Unhinged and a leading expert in pricing, packaging, and product-led growth, joins CJ for this episode. Together they explore the evolving landscape of SaaS metrics in the age of AI with a focus on the paradigm shift from access-based pricing to outcome-based models. They also examine success-based pricing and how to attach metrics to these models. The

Pixar Movies and Wealth Management Tech: Finance and Storytelling with Altruist’s Marc Greenberg

Oct 21 2024 55 mins  
In this episode, CJ sits down with Marc Greenberg, former VP of Finance & Strategy at Pixar and current CFO at Altruist, for a fascinating conversation about his career in finance. Marc sheds light on the complex budgeting process at Pixar and the long lead times, challenges, and seasonality of the movie industry. He explains how decisions are made about sequels and other financial

Forecasting Revenue and Managing Volatility with Naeem Ishaq of Checkr, Inc.

Oct 17 2024 56 mins  
In this episode, CJ interviews Naeem Ishaq of Checkr, Inc., and three-time CFO. Naeem shares insights into what a CFO should aim to accomplish in their first 100 days at a new company, including key topics for their first board meeting and the importance of training the board on relevant metrics. The discussion delves into navigating diverse business models, where Naeem unpacks the