Consultoria financeira é o diferencial para startups que buscam captar investimentos

Brazil has stood out as one of the main startup ecosystems in Latin America, with more than 13,000 businesses registered in 2021, according to the Brazilian Association of Startups (AbsTartups). Fintechs, Healthtechs and Retailtechs have gained a lot of popularity in the country. In 2020 and 2021, they boosted the nation's leadership in receiving venture capital, with billions of dollars invested, according to the Latin American Association of Private Equity & Venture Capital.

With the investments in full swing, it didn't take long for the M&A market to become active in Brazil, with an increasing number of operations involving startups. According to PwC Brasil, this sector has significantly increased the number of transactions in recent years, especially in the technology sector. Large M&A operations, such as Stoneco's acquisition of Linx by around R$ 6 billion in 2020, illustrate the potential for founders to come in Brazil. According to the presence of foreign stakeholders in the country, it brings it closer to the internationalization of this ecosystem, it is necessary to understand the urgency of financial management practices in line with the investment standards.

According to Natalia Baranov, M&A, Tax Controllership and Management, Financial Planning and Analysis, a financial consulting It can act as a watershed for the success of a startup, especially in the early stages. “Many new businesses often face common challenges, which involve balancing sales operations, making decisions about new contributions and dealing with the flow of inflows and outlets of customers and employees. However, the consultant's role is precisely to help them define long-term goals, establishing a clear path to achieving them efficiently and, above all, realism”, he explains.

In addition to helping corporations to survive, another mission of this type of service is to encourage them to thrive in a sustainable way.  When a founder seeks to solidify the brand's position and attract more significant capital, the first step is to find the ideal partner for strategic planning, resource management and preparation for fundraising, with the aim of ensuring that nothing affects the monetary health of the enterprise.

Without the necessary support, C-levels can easily lose value and control of startup expectations and limitations. With financial management, on the other hand, consultants can use methods to establish a fair negotiation basis with investors, in addition to adapting to the legal compliance required for each business. Finally, oriented on best practices, leaders are able to avoid penalties and ensure a transparent operation of investments, with the necessary tools so that the expectations of both parties are met.

With more than 20 years of experience in the market, Natalia has already participated in acquisitions of companies that suffered more than R$ 1 million losses due to lack of management, under the leadership of the former CEO. Therefore, she notes that many startups, focused only on growth, neglect the importance of this control and discover critical points only after the negotiations, compromising the results that could be fulfilled with the expanded view of the consultancy and specialized reports, such as the statement of income for the year (DRE), the balance sheet and the cash flow.

“Startups often operate with limited resources. So, effective financial management ensures that each real is invested in a way that maximizes capital, prioritizing expenses that really add to the company. Another function also involves preparing C-levels for due diligence processes, helping them to present their finances in a transparent and attractive way to the stakeholders, with the evaluation of the brand's valuation and the preparation of compelling pitch decks. It is these details that guarantee the growth of a startup that seeks not only the profitable return, but mainly a responsibility with resources, customers and investors”, adds baranov.