Start-up: why is finance leadership left behind?

I am happy to share more insights, being featured in the Candis Magazin as one of go-to interim and fractional CFO for start-ups and scale ups.

When starting a company, it is common sense to seek professional help for critical tasks. If I am sick, I go to a doctor. If I want to build a house, I hire an architect. Yet when it comes to founding and running a startup, finance, a critical cornerstone for success, is often overlooked in the early stages. Why actually?

From day one, startups face complex financial tasks: setting up proper investor reporting, managing cash flow, understanding funding needs and navigating compliance. These are not optional, they are essential for survival and growth. But all too often, founders delay prioritizing finance, resulting in mistakes, inefficiencies and precious time wasted, that could be spent on product development or go-to-market strategies.

This is where bringing in professional finance expertise early on can create a significant competitive advantage. An experienced CFO, even part-time, can quickly:

- establish efficient finance processes from the start,

- automate workflows to free up founders’ time,

- provide clarity on the company’s financial position and trajectory.

With minimal onboarding, a skilled CFO can help founders avoid pitfalls and build a strong financial foundation. Strong finances are not just a back-office necessity, they are a strategic advantage that enables start-ups to move faster, smarter and more confidently.