Venture back companies

We know the services that VC-backed companies regularly need:

It’s a huge step forward when a company successfully closes a Venture Capital-led round of investment. So, congratulations!

Once the initial excitement passes however, founders recognise that, with the newly received cash comes increased scrutiny. This includes scrutiny of the company’s strategy, its processes and, most importantly, its finances.

If there’s one thing that investors don’t like its surprises and for that reason they want to rest assured that there are adequate financial controls and reporting processes in place to detect issues early on. Startups with VC funding need processes and systems to regularly report on the company’s financial position.

How does Metric know what venture capitalists want to see from their invested companies?

Metric’s client base consists of Technology and High Growth companies. These companies are all growing much faster than the norm and are extremely innovative and disruptive.

As a consequence, these companies tend to be very cash “thirsty” in the early years and seek VC funding to help and support them through the growth stages.

We have helped tons of funded startups, by providing the financial information that the venture capitalists demand.

Some of the Metric team have worked as CFOs for VC-backed companies and know, first-hand, what information is required and when.

Based on this experience, we believe that VC-backed companies require financial advisors that can:

  • Talk their language. It’s imperative that non-finance managers can quickly interpret the key messages and take action accordingly.
  • Utilise their knowledge and experience of working with similar-sized Tech and High Growth companies to help management make better decisions.
  • Provide independent, thought leadership. This can include delivering hard but necessary messages to management.
  • Deliver financial reporting to achieve Group wide objectives and maintain statutory compliance.
  • Consolidate the financials of different business units and subsidiaries, across various jurisdictions.
  • Provide strategic business advice, to allow the Company to grow organically or through acquisitions and partnerships.
  • Demonstrate recent experience helping to develop successful sales processes (i.e. a “sales pipeline”)
  • Introduce the Company’s management team to a high-calibre business network, including funding sources, law & accounting firms, banks, market experts, etc.
  • Experience of advising on cross border transactions, running all the way from identification of strategic need through to fund-raising and integration with existing businesses.

We know how sophisticated investors dissect the management information put before them. This helps us advise companies and make sure founders avoid some of the “trap doors” that can quickly sour relations with your investor partner.

Stay in control and make the most of opportunities

We can make sure that your accounting systems and bookkeeping are strong enough to deliver reliable financials every month; generate bespoke reports as requested by investors; prepare the financial statements for the company; and survive an audit, should they ask for one – this means having your schedules and back up information neatly organized.

However, at Metric, we can go beyond preparing the core financials. We can support your company prepare the strategic suite of documents of a well rounded finance department. This would typically include preparing a budget that your team supports; preparing a budget variance, comparing your actual performance to your budgeted projections; and managing your cash flow projections, so that you know when you’re likely to run out of cash and what this means for your hiring decisions, profit margins and burn rate.

What services do our VC-backed clients want?

Services that other VC-backed companies have regularly asked us to perform include:

Great firm. With been with them for over 3 years now, since the day we created the Company. Throughout they’ve been amazing.

Ed Challis, Reinfer Ltd

I approached Metric to help us set up our first business. As a start-up it’s difficult to know what to do, where to go and who to trust. Years later, we are still using Metric and class them as an integral part of our business. They are a trusted adviser and I would highly recommend their services.

Gavin Shay , Equipsme Group

Metric Accountants has been supporting the Company for the past few years. The team is very competent and understands the requirements of a tech business well. They will take all the SEIS/EIS/VAT/R&D/accounts issues off your mind so that you can focus on running your own business. They are also just lovely people to work with. I could not recommend more.

Bartosz Jaskula, Mergerlinks Ltd

Excellent, helpful, friendly and professional with competitive fees. Would highly recommend!

Neil Terry, Vidsy Media Group

Metric are fabulous business partners. They are a true extension of the team. Beyond a great service, they are true advisors.

Katie Vanneck-Smith, Tortoise Media Ltd

Metric Accountants have supported us from the founding of our company, helping us through several years of growth. They’re always available at the end of the phone and represent really excellent value for money. Choosing Metric was one of the best decisions I made!

Kat Bruce, Nature Metrics Ltd