Why Your Startup Pitch Needs Sensitivity Analysis
To impress risk-averse investors, you have to prove that you’re ready for whatever may come.
![Nicholas Piscani](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1076308%2Fretina_64x64_huge_c86bee57b744a63fe5ffe5b190a43c7c-4d6c3f116f8d8244b2bbeaf6f62646b0.jpg)
Nicholas Piscani
The Metrics Investors Want: Quantitative Forecasting for Early-stage Startups
It’s a catch-22 for young startups: How do you attract investors with compelling financial projections if you don’t have historical data? Here’s a three-part strategy for making the most of what you’ve got to seal the deal.
![Sean Heberling](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1077044%2Fretina_64x64_huge_431fcef06fb9bad3ba280c7159de2aaa-3d8f0c0798dbf534db28162c0e1edd8d.jpg)
Sean Heberling
Cash Flow Optimization: How Small and Medium Businesses Can Unlock Value and Manage Risk
Cash flow optimization requires a disciplined approach that anticipates liquidity shocks and allocates windfalls strategically in order to maximize opportunity.
![Emilio Parente](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1056017%2Fretina_64x64_huge_049d07d863d301e513a4232bbd6a0ee4-e94b9f0365e56f3d970cb256d478dcad.jpg)
Emilio Parente
Financial Modeling Case Study: OOVA
Amy Divaraniya, CEO and co-founder of OOVA, created a product she knew the market needed. Yet, while she was pitching investors trying to close her seed round, she found that the financial projections needed a fresh pair of eyes.
![Elizabeth J. Howell Hanano, CFA](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1074542%2Fretina_64x64_huge_90d5496a9adeec342558861e56279b0a-ed9d2c75ada9a5cc703aa58162c50ca1.jpg)
Elizabeth J. Howell Hanano, CFA
Quality of Earnings: A Key Pillar of Financial Due Diligence
Financial due diligence is the process of making sure the price of an asset is in line with its operating performance “under the hood.” Assessing the quality of earnings is one of its key tests: How sustainable is the business’ reported financial performance?
![Saveen Kumar](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Fcomponents%2Fblog_author%2Fcontent%2Fphoto_file%2Fphoto%2F685682%2Flarge_00ac6e5c81f9418f0f0422997871957f-eaa84f9a6c29b197dca75442a1917f1a.jpg)
Saveen Kumar
A Step-by-step Guide to Building an Accurate Financial Model
Many financial models fail because they rely on optimistic assumptions and ignore the risks presented by uncertain variables. This six-step guide illustrates how to avoid these pitfalls and develop practical, accurate financial models to inform your decision-making.
![Hudson Cashdan](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1072939%2Fretina_64x64_huge_a2934d704658e3e0f2578a683303c7d4-dd8f8df70523857cd481b448d51a1b67.jpg)
Hudson Cashdan
Reorganizing for Survival: Building Scenarios
In the “new normal,” how should business leaders ensure that their business is well-equipped to survive and then thrive? Scenario analysis is a handy tool: How are scenarios built and translated into financial projections?
Natasha Ketabchi
Financial Forecasting When Modeling With Missing Data
A financial forecast is a map that leads investors to the end goal. Most forecasts fail because they assume the ability to capture a market without detailing the assumptions to get them there. Startup financial models must be granular, with no missing steps from points A to Z.
![Sean Kae Siang Lim](http://assets.toptal.io/images?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbs-uploads.toptal.io%2Fblackfish-uploads%2Ftalent%2Fprofile%2Fpicture_file%2Fpicture%2F1055873%2Fretina_64x64_huge_471970211006f513cca9765dcdff6175-fbbd524069989cef4d45a67db7632714.jpg)
Sean Kae Siang Lim
Analyzing the Effects of Negative Interest Rates Across Five Economies
What happens when interest rates drop below zero - are you really paid to borrow money? Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Eurozone have all experienced negative rates and their experiences give pointers towards the effectiveness of such strategies.
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