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The startup finance function moves through
three stages of opening for business, fuelling
growth, and scaling the enterprise — with the
CFO integral to each transition.

By David A. J. Axson

n 2021, approximately 5.4 million the financial side of the business: raising
new businesses were registered in the capital, managing cash flow, accurately
US and more than 800,000 in the UK. accounting for business activity, or
Based upon historical trends, by the forecasting future performance.
Iend of 2022, almost 20% (1.2 million) Entrepreneurs rarely have strong
will have ceased operation; by the end of finance backgrounds. They are usually
2025 over half will probably have smart engineers who have designed an
disappeared. Starting and growing a innovative new product or creative
successful business is hard. For many, the marketing types who have spotted an
reason for failure is not a bad idea or a bad underserved customer constituency or
product, but a failure to be able to manage need. However, no business can succeed

FM-MAGAZINE.COM December 2022 I FM MAGAZINE I 9