Delphine Bernard

Team, Market Size, Technology, and Product-Market fit are key criteria VCs assess to evaluate an opportunity. An often-overlooked aspect in team assessment is their Sense of Urgency or, GSD. This cultural advantage, inspired from the top, can turn an average opportunity into a significant win. The FastCompany article below gives ideas on how leaders can inspire their teams to adopt a GSD Mentality. #VC #Technology #Opportunity #GSD

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We’re thrilled to share insights from our CFO, Saeideh Fard in her recent article that sheds light on the evolving role of C-Suite leadership in the era of AI. In today's fast-paced business landscape, agility and adaptability are more crucial than ever. As Saeideh points out, embracing AI isn't just about adopting new technologies—it's about redefining the role of C-Suite leadership to serve as sponsors of transformation and identifying opportunities for the organization to become more resilient and faster moving to keep pace with the market. Highlighted in the article are key strategies for navigating the transformative era of AI, including: - Assessing organizational readiness: Evaluating data infrastructures, literacy levels, and governance structures to ensure effective AI integration. - Bold resource allocation: Prioritizing value-accretive projects and fostering a culture of innovation. - Understanding data infrastructure: Strengthening foundations to support AI initiatives, with a focus on security, quality, and compliance. - Balancing imagination and pragmatism: Nurturing creativity while maintaining a practical approach to execution. - Embracing generative AI: Exploring the creative and disruptive potential of AI aligned with business objectives. - Continuous learning: Staying informed about AI trends and supporting organizational learning and development. Read the full article below and join us in shaping a future where innovation and transformation go hand in hand! https://lnkd.in/daNPZPZV #Introhive #AI #BusinessTransformation

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Advisory boards have been pivotal throughout my career, and this new report from the Boardstream team is a must-read. It’s packed with actionable insights on how to build and leverage an advisory board that truly drives impact and growth. Well done, Evan Kraut and Marina Ilishaev! 👉 https://lnkd.in/dPTAS4-Y #AdvisoryBoards #CAB #Leadership #Boardstream #WhitePaper

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According to Ajay Vashee, former CFO of Dropbox and current investor with IVP the most successful finance leaders are great storytellers. In this episode of Secrets of Rockstar CFOs, Vashee joins Jack McCullough to discuss the relationship between building companies and making strategic investment decisions. Listen by clicking below or streaming on Spotify, Apple or Google Podcasts! 🎧 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e5Un9asY #SecretsofRockstarCFOs #podcast #financeleaders

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🎙️ SaaS Growth Secrets from Miro’s CFO, Justin Coulombe, CFA How does Miro drive retention and growth? By blending data, predictive modeling, AI, and a human touch—all underpinned by a robust Product-Led Growth (PLG) strategy. In this episode, Justin shares: The secret to avoiding internal channel conflict in sales. Why per-seat pricing still thrives at Miro. How CFOs can navigate business model transitions effectively. His bold take on SaaS practices that need rethinking. 🔥 Whether you're scaling a SaaS business or fine-tuning PLG, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Check it out and redefine your strategy! 👉 Listen here: [https://lnkd.in/e6_vQKUT] #SaaSLeadership #PLG #CustomerExperience #GrowthStrategies #CFOInsights

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The Information has breaking news of Amazon Web Services (AWS) mirroring Microsoft‘s #AI #Licensing deal with Adept. Could this be the second of many more to come as acquiring companies try to avoid the complexity and regulatory risk of Department of Justice review whilie still providing investors and employees upside and an off ramp as the cost of scaling these #AI #Unicorns really hits home? What do you think? #management #venturecapital #capitalmarkets #aifunding #privateequity https://lnkd.in/gyrQndYr

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Collaboration between the offices of the CMO and CFO is often strained—even more so with CMO tenure decreasing and CFOs in short supply. Working together requires thinking transformationally: addressing barriers, defining success, measuring outcomes more diligently, and aligning timelines. The CFO examines four of the most pressing issues plaguing the CMO-CFO relationship and offers recommendations for bridging the gap. https://lnkd.in/e8C7BqSu #CMO #CFO #Finance #Marketing

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I just had the opportunity to present my topic proposal for my Doctor of Business Administration at Golden Gate University. Exploring Nature’s Impact on Leadership and Team Cohesion in Early-Stage Technology Startup Co-founder Teams Primary Research Question: How do nature-based team-building experiences influence the resilience and cohesion of early-stage co-founder leadership teams? More to come as I continue on my journey through the dissertation phase of my DBA. If, however, nature has had a personal impact on your life or profession, or if you just want to chat (because I think my husband is getting sick of hearing me talk about it) please pm me. #DBA #DoctorofBusinessAdministration #NaturesImpact #SharedLeadership #Startups #CoFounders #LeadershipTeams

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With the influx of AI-powered technology in organizations of all industries, here's a timely reminder for all business leaders: Prioritizing AI literacy and change management is key to unlocking the true potential of technology investments, AI or not. Chief Financial Officers have a unique role in ensuring employees are using AI to increase efficiency and productivity, with responsibility and compliance top of mind. Seismic's Kerry Ryan elaborates on this in CFO Dive. Read more:

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PE - Effective Boards of Directors (Expectations of Boards & CEOs) Insights for expectation setting for effective Boards of Directors for PE-backed CEOs: ------------------ Expectations of Board Directors: - Stay informed about the company’s business and industry trends - Prepare for meetings by reviewing materials and bringing relevant questions - Contribute meaningful insights and engage in discussions without dominating - Express views during meetings rather than waiting for private discussions - Provide constructive feedback with respect and professionalism - Be fully present and engaged during meetings - Support board decisions once made, even if personally opposed - Foster a positive working relationship and culture with management Expectations of the CEO & the Management Team: - Maintain transparency, especially in reporting bad news to the board - Uphold high ethical standards and deliver on financial and operational goals - Keep the board updated on significant developments promptly - Involve the board in decision-making as thought-partners, not just for final approvals - Provide clear and sufficient pre-reading materials for informed decision-making - Expose the board to high-potential executives for better succession planning - Promote a positive, energetic corporate culture in dealings with both employees and the board ------------------ Source:  "Sample Expectations of Board and Management" - Great Companies Deserve Great Boards: A CEO’s Guide to the Boardroom by Beverly Behan --- #boards #directors #pe #privateequity

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At TechNexus Venture Collaborative, one of the most common questions we receive from our corporate partners is "How can we measure success?" Corporations track metrics, OKRs, and KPIs across all business lines, and corporate venture capital and innovation need not be an exception. If you're interested in learning more about strategic and financial returns in corporate venture capital, read the latest in our series below!

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Equity compensation is critical for aligning employees with a company’s long-term goals and fostering a culture of ownership. Yet, data on equity refresh design is scarce. Key questions on eligibility, timing, and grant size persist among founders and Boards. We are excited to share the results of General Catalyst's 2024 Equity Refresh Survey which compiles over 160 data points on key questions including eligibility, timing, and grant size. Huge shoutout to my teammates Guissu Baier and Grant Rivas for their hard work in leading this effort. The findings show that, in this era of capital efficiency, companies are judicious with equity dilution while still rewarding top performers. Highlights: - 87% of companies prioritize individual performance for refresh grants - 25% or fewer of employees receive refresh grants annually - Refresh grants are typically 25% or less of current new hire benchmarks - Nearly half of refresh grants have no vesting cliff Access the full report here → https://lnkd.in/gruPasKh

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PE - Capital-efficient Revenue Growth in Tech PE using Lean Thinking Revenue Growth in PE portfolio context should be capital efficient and profitable. One idea is to consider the best practices of Lean Thinking in Tech PE - how portfolio companies can streamline their Revenue Growth strategies, optimize their sales processes, improve execution, and reduce inefficiencies across operations - examples include: - Sales & Marketing: Focusing on high-impact activities that drive revenue, such as targeting the most profitable customer segments and eliminating redundant actions - Operations: Simplifying workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and reducing overhead to enhance operational efficiency and scalability - Resource Allocation: invest resources where they create the most value, such as prioritizing key growth initiatives over less impactful ones - Continuous Improvement: ongoing tracking and assessment & refinement of all processes are regularly evaluated and improved for better results PE firms can help their portfolio companies grow faster, operate more efficiently, and achieve higher growth with Lean execution in GTM. FYI: Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Company #pe #privateequity #investing #finance #saas #growth

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At Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference, an engaging discussion shed light on the evolving venture capital (VC) landscape. One of the key takeaways was the underscore of vibrant growth of the VC sector, with the number of firms soaring from 6,000 in 2013 to about 60,000 today. This surge in competition is driving VCs to innovate and refine their fundraising strategies, creating a dynamic environment for investment opportunities. Additionally, the session touched on how family offices provide flexible capital for smaller investments while emphasizing the thorough scrutiny required for larger funds. An emphasis on candid conversations among VCs and limited partners highlighted a commitment to fostering a more collaborative and forward-thinking investment community. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/gHjJbtr3 Fortune Allie Garfinkle Branded Hospitality Ventures Hospitality Headline Newsletter #VentureCapital #Investment #hospitality #community Clara Shih Paulo Rosado #BrainstormTech Christine Moseley Rick Rose

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Are you curious how Cloud CFO can transform your startup's financial situation? 🚀 Watch the full interview with our founder, Elan, who is talking with Elliot Spiegel of Inhouse Ventures for insights into Cloud CFO's collaborative approach and the value we bring to our client's businesses. FULL INTERVIEW: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gsjYPaRa #CloudCFO #CFO #VirtualCFO #VCFO #startup #startups #startupaus

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📍 This week, it’s time for Avenir, the fifth out of seven companies in Cohort I of the Female Foundry Visionaries AI Incubator in partnership with Google Cloud. Can you believe that a typical financial analyst spends an average 4 hours preparing a regulatory report? That’s 26 working days per year! Meet Andrea MacDonald, Jeremy Bensoussan and Stefan Rotarus, the founding team of Avenir—a platform using proprietary AI algorithm that reduces the lengthy (and boring!) process of creating complex financial reports to just 20 minutes per report! To date, Avenir has built relationships with over 100 financial advisory firms and has over 72 more on its waiting list! Its backers include Techstars and SFC Capital. Current team’s focus? Growth. The team is looking for intros to financial advisor networks and is slowly preparing for its new equity round in Q1 2025. Want to get in touch? Drop an email to Andrea MacDonald and follow the team ➯ Avenir. #femalefoundryvisionaries #visionaries #femalefoundry #AI #googlecloud

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Board of Directors - insights from "The Essays of Warren Buffett" Buffett’s principles for Boards of Directors emphasize the importance of independence, accountability, and a focus on long-term shareholder value: - Long-Term Focus: Boards should act in the long-term interest of shareholders - Board Composition: Boards with mostly outside directors and select members for business savvy, not prominence or diversity (PE insight: CROs on the Board) - Regular Evaluation: Outside directors should meet without the CEO to assess performance True Independence: Directors must have equity in the company to align with shareholders' interests P.S. This is a very insightful book structuring Warren Buffett's shareholder letters by specific categories - here are the top summary takeaways from the rest of the book: Investment Discipline – Maintain patience and discipline, avoiding speculative investments and market timing Business Quality – Seek businesses with a durable competitive advantage Management – High-quality, trustworthy management & look for managers who think like owners Corporate Governance – Transparent communication and fair treatment of all stakeholders Risk Management – Avoid excessive leverage and maintain a margin of safety to minimize risk and preserve capital Fundamentals – Focus on fundamentals rather than market trends Economic Earnings – Focus on economic earnings and free cash flow rather than accounting profits for a true picture of financial health Long-Term Focus – Long-term investments and value creation vs. short-term gains Capital Allocation – Efficient capital allocation is key - reinvest earnings wisely Market Irrationality – Recognize and capitalize on irrationality as "Mr.Market" can be inefficient in the short term #investing #markets #business #stocks #finance #pe #ceo

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