Laurent Saurel - Startup CFO

Valve's unreleased, invite-only game, Deadlock, saw rapid growth thanks to word of mouth, recently surpassing 160k concurrent players. According to McKinsey & Company, word-of-mouth drives approximately two-thirds of consumer purchasing decisions, more than twice the sales of paid advertising, and Deadlock leans into word of mouth heavily. ➤ Invite-Only System: Players could invite friends directly from their Steam list, creating exclusivity and driving shares. ➤ Curiosity Driven: Valve asked players to keep the game secret, increasing intrigue. ➤ Social Currency: The invitation system made access feel valuable, boosting interest and discussions. The Power of Word of Mouth ➤ 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends over ads. ➤ 97% of B2B buyers trust peer reviews more than other content. ➤ Trusted recommendations activate reward centers in our brains, making them memorable. On the flipside, there is a risk of Negative Word of Mouth Negative reviews can harm adoption by eroding trust, reducing engagement, and deterring purchases, especially with high-risk products.

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This is your daily reminder to become a luddite and hide in a cave (with good internet access, we can't be savages)... Thought I had today: Siri, Alexa and Cortina are public facing Skynet. This has been your needed and standardized AI message for the linkedin day cycle.

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5 Principles to success by Jim Simons Principle 1: Be guided by Beauty “Getting the right kind of people, approaching the problem, and doing it right … it’s a beautiful thing to do something right.” Principle 2: Surround yourself with the smartest and best people you possibly can. “My algorithm has always been: you get smart people together and you give them a lot of freedom. Create an atmosphere where everyone talks to everyone else, they're not hiding in a corner with their own little thing, they talk to everybody else.” Principle 3: Don’t run with the pack. If everyone is trying to solve the same problem ... don’t do that. Do something original. Principle 4: Don’t give up easily. Stick with it. Stick with it not forever, but really give it a chance to get where you’re going. Principle 5: Hope for good luck!

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Our latest #FATTY video update!

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🎶 Onrekord is built by Tech artists, for Music artists Reasons why Onrekord can be a beast in the game: - Artist agreements are essential in shaping the revenue that record labels generate. These agreements specify the terms of the relationship between the label and the artist, including how much of the revenue the artist is entitled to. Record labels often claim a significant share of the earnings, as they assume the financial risks involved in promoting and developing the artist. - Record labels and music publishers have become too large and find it challenging to handle the vast amounts of digital data, alongside the complexities of managing royalties on the human side of the process. - Artists are often underpaid, facing substantial delays between when their music is streamed and when they receive payment. Additionally, the lack of transparent and fair data leaves them without a clear understanding of how their earnings are calculated - Spotify, Apple Music, and most other leading platforms utilize what is known as a pro-rata system for distributing royalties. This system helps the established artists like your Drakes and Adeles, however, new artists and those who are not well established get an unfair payout. As the industry contends with the challenges of royalty distribution, it's crucial to acknowledge the importance of fair compensation for artists. By adopting forward-thinking solutions like the user-centric payment model and blockchain technology, the industry can work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future. Redefining the music royalty framework is the key to harmonizing technology with fair compensation for artists.

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ROI. Do you know what it stands for? “If you show revenue people will ask how much and it will never be enough..” So funny but so true. So no revenue is better But what if you do have some revenue? As you scale your buisness, your hosting fees and most of your expenses grow. Is that a good sign? Well, The main questions are: Are you investing on the right things? The ones that can create more growth on the same $ investment (spending is easy, hitting the sweet spot & getting value is harder) What level of room to operate/risk are you willing to take? Multiple factors on this one. but no matter what you decide: First- Define very clear targets that are time sensitive with specific owner as accountability is everything Second - You need to be all in on your investment, if you are half in it will not work and focus is critical Third- What will be the worst case scenario? Or the best case scenario? you should track those indicators and define what triggers pulling the plug and to what extent, but timeframe needs to be reasonable and doable as we want the enable the team to WIN

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It's hard to find good KOLs these days. The ones that are good are also expensive. How can you use the help from KOLs and build a long term relationship? this is the secret source in web3. The so called "KOL rounds" that everyone is talking about, is about to vanish. Why? Well why should a #KOL / #influencer invest his own money, then market the project for free ? while he / she can get 4-5 more money from promoting the project We need a #new #marketing #approach

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🚨 $23M TAX MISTAKE! 🚨 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 $𝟮𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 + 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. 😱 Don’t let this be you! Managing global sales tax is YOUR responsibility when you sell digital goods directly to players. Here’s what you NEED to do to stay sales tax/VAT compliant and avoid a hair-raising phone call from a foreign tax authority: 🎯 Research your global tax obligations  🌍  Set up local entities   🏢 Register with tax authorities  📄  Calculate and collect the right taxes  ⏱️  Report accurately and on time Sales tax compliance may be a headache, but the rewards of D2C sales are worth it. Our team already works with ⅓ of the top grossing mobile games, taking sales tax compliance and all their payments needs off their plate - so they can focus on growing D2C revenue. 👉 Read our latest article on Appcharge’s blog for all the details: https://lnkd.in/dTfEqPbT What’s your biggest tax compliance challenge? Let’s chat below! 💬👇 #MobileGaming #TaxCompliance #GameDevelopment #MerchantOfRecord #Appcharge

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Taking your company public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) is an exciting milestone. It can bring in a lot of money, raise your company’s profile, and boost your credibility. However, the process is complex and consists of potential pitfalls. → Here are some common mistakes to avoid to ensure a successful IPO: - Overvaluing the Company A prevalent mistake is overestimating your company’s value. While it’s tempting to set a high IPO price to maximise capital, an inflated valuation can lead to a sharp decline in stock prices post-IPO. This can erode investor confidence and damage the company’s reputation. It’s crucial to be realistic about your valuation and focus on long-term growth rather than short-term gains. - Insufficient Market Research Thorough market research is vital to understand the competitive landscape, customer demand, and market trends. Launching an IPO in unfavourable market conditions can lead to poor investor interest and low stock prices. Companies need to assess market conditions carefully and choose the right timing for their IPO. - Poor Communication Effective communication with investors is paramount. Companies need to be transparent about their business model, financial performance, and future plans. Overhyping the business can create unrealistic expectations and lead to disappointment. Building trust and credibility through honest and clear communication is essential for maintaining investor confidence. - Inadequate Preparation Launching an IPO requires meticulous preparation. This includes having audited financial statements, a comprehensive business plan, and robust financial systems. Companies must ensure they meet all regulatory requirements and are ready for intense scrutiny from investors, analysts, and regulatory bodies. Failing to prepare adequately can result in delays, legal issues, and loss of investor trust. - Ignoring Long-Term Goals Focusing solely on the short-term benefits of an IPO can be a major pitfall. Companies should have a solid plan for sustainable growth and profitability. This includes having a strong management team capable of leading the company through the IPO process and beyond. - Underestimating the Costs and Complexity The IPO process is expensive and time-consuming. It involves significant legal, accounting, and regulatory costs. Companies must be prepared for the financial and operational impact of going public, including ongoing compliance and reporting requirements. By avoiding these common pitfalls, companies can increase their chances of a successful IPO and lay a strong foundation for future growth. #IPO #CorpwisAdvisorsPrivateLimited #stocks #stockmarket #companies #business #IPOprocess #SEBI #pitfalls

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Another month gone by without time to close your books on the prior one? Read our tips for closing timely and reach out to me to learn more about how The A Team can work with you and handle this key process. #MonthEndClose #ManagingYourFinances #TheATeamConsulting

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▼Probability logic (publicly available) Unless there is an unexpected event, such as war, disaster, or natural disaster, the exchange rate will be 150-180 positive in 2024. Even if there is a sudden unexpected event, even if the downside is negative to 110, it will only be a maximum limit of -50, and stock prices have no limit and can go up to +50 or more, so the latter is the safer option in terms of overall probability. (In case of “DD” which is Double Down case, you have to think about other tactics as you know well) Therefore, as of 4/29/2024, it is fine to make further decisions. (Please do so at your own risk (disclaimer)

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▼Probability logic (publicly available) Unless there is an unexpected event, such as war, disaster, or natural disaster, the exchange rate will be 150-180 positive in 2024. Even if there is a sudden unexpected event, even if the downside is negative to 110, it will only be a maximum limit of -50, and stock prices have no limit and can go up to +50 or more, so the latter is the safer option in terms of overall probability. (In case of “DD” which is Double Down case, you have to think about other tactics as you know well) Therefore, as of 5/20/2024, it is fine to make further decisions. (Please do so at your own risk (disclaimer)

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Daily Content Recap #1 $100M CEO Explains How to 10x Your Business Overnight With Influencers Overview: Alex Hormozi shares his experiences spending more than $40M on influencers. Alex covers examples such as PRIME, Nike, and Mr. Beast to accelerate your company's growth and making time your ally. As an influencer second to a businessman, Alex teaches techniques on getting an influencer or brand ambassador's attention, finding your Michael Jordan or MVP to rocket your brand, how to message talent, and how to close talent. PRIME was founded two years ago in 2022 and has surpassed Powerade which was founded in 1988. Nike sky rocketed past adidas and Converse with one athlete Michael Jordan. Here are the key takeaways from the 40 min video: -Brand to influencer vs influencer creating brand -Verified accounts got 5x - 10x the response rates -Nike went all in to find their Michael Jordan -Personal and friendly influencer outreach offering to incur costs to start relationship make influencers take you seriously -Offer to pay a reasonable amount just to meet with them up front -Give a gift and handwritten card relevant to them -Rule of 100 messages per day (4 hrs per day) Don’t be afraid to send more then 1 message to the same person -You don’t need 100 influencers just 1 super influencer -Prepare mockups for influencers Mr. Beast’s brand on your product ect -Show graphs with data performance marketing 1% - 3% -If they say no make sure to find out why -Promise & Proof (Will it be good? Why will it be good? Next Steps? Expectations? Two Perspectives Small company vs big company: Small fish getting into the industry with the perspective that the big companies do not really care about you and are just trying to hit a quota. Offering to become partners on this and this offer is only for a one influencer partner. If you work with the big guy, you are going to get assigned to some doesn’t care account rep who just clocks in. They will never cater to you. We have the best practices across lots of accounts. We have the infrastructure to enable you to scale and plug you into. Your audience will be taken care of with our support structure. Do you want to trust you brand to someone who is just getting into the industry or someone with a track record? Do you want to risk the following that took you years to build on someone who might not be here in six months? Small vs Big A. Personal touch, care, flexibility, ALL-IN, Owner Mentality B. Track record, best practices, infrastructure, specialists across functions, brand association Pitching without Case Studies: Bring other presentations that you worked on for other influencers. Show Connor Mcgregor the presentation you did for Kylie Jenner ect. This is the work you are known for. Full Video: https://lnkd.in/gbdTpdj8 Drop a comment on who I can learn from next!

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Too often, finance gets labeled as “just the numbers.” Revenue, profits, expenses— that’s just numbers. But the real value of finance is much more strategic. It’s about whether you can confidently make that next hire. It’s about knowing if you should let go of that unprofitable client. It’s about deciding if a new service launch will strengthen your growth. Finance isn’t just a P&L— it’s the backing to help you make that next big move. The insights are there to result in action, not just keep track. If you’re not using finance to make better decisions, you're leaving growth on the table.

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My brain: I should create some really clever, sophisticated marketing for my Startup Financial Modeling 101 courses… Also my brain: …Did I just write the song of the summer? I’m offering a course in Finance. 💁‍♀️ Seed funds. 💵 Six slides. 📊 No lies. 🙅‍♀️ Finance. Seed funds. Six slides. No lies. 🙃 — 👋 I'm Lauren and I'm a CFO and 3X founder on a mission to make Finance _actually_ work for Startup Founders. 📈 Want to take my Financial Modeling course? Comment to join the next one! 🔔 Enjoy my content? Hit FOLLOW. 📬 Want my newsletter? SUBSCRIBE (link in profile).

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⛏️🧈LinkedIn Gold🧈⛏️ I've noticed more users on LinkedIn reporting posts in their feed that are low-quality or not relevant to them or their goals. Today, I’m sharing and highlighting posts from the past week that I found valuable, insightful or even inspiring. I hope you find something useful in these posts, and feel free to share your own finds in the comments. I truly believe LinkedIn can make a positive difference in people's lives. Tracy Kennedy takes data and tells a story, which is the best way to use data. Not my opinion, a fact. https://lnkd.in/gSDJS_Ru Ennissa Soleil Martin goes medieval on on outreach emails https://lnkd.in/gRvZdXq3 Kevin R. reminds us that games are art, and as such using yesterdays data may not be the best tool to predict what will resonate with audiences in the future. https://lnkd.in/gYiKzcef Judd Cobler gives us the difficulty tier list when it comes to game development. https://lnkd.in/gb2UwH46 Theodor Diea 🔜 Gamescom shows us something new. https://lnkd.in/gyySMxt7 Doug McCracken argues that the future of entertainment will be driven by video game companies and their integration with social and live streaming platforms. https://lnkd.in/gRu7QNth Let me know if I missed any.

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The potential U.S. ban on TikTok, following Senate approval to force a sale by ByteDance, echoes India's earlier ban and could significantly impact Gen Z and the gaming community: -Community Disruption: TikTok is not just a platform but a vital part of Gen Z's social connections and creative expression. A ban could push them to platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, significantly altering their digital interactions and potentially stifling their creativity. -Content Shifts: TikTok's short-form content style shapes Gen Z's media consumption. Its absence could lead to changes in how this demographic engages with digital media. -Economic Impact: Many young creators, often from marginalized communities, rely on TikTok for income. A ban could disrupt their economic opportunities, forcing them to seek alternative platforms and potentially pushing them further into financial instability. -Gaming Influence: TikTok promotes games and gaming content, playing a crucial role in the marketing and trendsetting within the gaming industry. A ban could reshape these dynamics. -Reduced Political Engagement: TikTok also serves as a platform for political discourse and activism among young users. A ban could lessen their exposure to diverse perspectives and facilitate their participation in activism. #news #currentevents #gamingindustry https://lnkd.in/eujPVvaY

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CFO plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of emerging companies. Here’s how CFOs drive strategic building within startups:   - Financial Planning and Analysis: According to Deloitte survey, 72% of high-growth companies attribute their success to effective FP&A practices. CFOs utilize data analytics and forecasting techniques to guide decision-making.   - Strategic Partnerships: CFOs facilitate strategic collaborations by evaluating financial viability. Effective partnerships enhance market reach and competitiveness, fostering growth and innovation.   - Capital Management: CB Insights research indicates, 29% of failed startups cite running out of cash as the primary reason for their downfall. A CFO optimizes capital structure, ensures efficient resource allocation, and makes sure that startups don’t grapple with capital constraints.   - Risk Management: In the dynamic landscape of startup growth, CFOs identify and mitigate financial risks. PwC report highlights that 65% of CEOs are concerned about uncertain economic growth impacting their business.   - Regulatory Compliance: CFOs ensure startups adhere to tax laws, regulatory requirements, and accounting standards. Compliance mitigates legal risks and enhances investor confidence, significant for long-term sustainability.   In the end, CFOs play a strategic role in the growth journey of startups. By leveraging financial expertise, risk management acumen, and data-driven insights, CFOs enable startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. In the competitive landscape of entrepreneurship with effective financial leadership startups can chart a course towards sustainable growth and profitability. #CFO #startup #startups #finance #CorpwisAdvisorsPrivateLimited #leadership #growth #entrepreneurship

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Wow, CAC Payback Periods are finally coming back down to earth. For seven consecutive quarters, median CAC Payback Periods steadily rose. We've now reached an inflection point. Many of you may be wondering why this didn’t actually happen sooner. Why was the inflection point in 2024, and not, say, the first half of 2023, when we knew the climate was changing? Didn’t a bunch of people get fired? Well, it takes a while to unwind a Go to Market motion that you mistakenly staffed to produce 800 HP once you realize it’s only getting 8 miles to the gallon. Yes, you can go fire a bunch of sales and marketing people. But you still have to demonstrate you can close net new deals. New revenue is still part of the equation; you just now have to find a strategy to do it cheaper. You can get the full story, and weekly updates on market valuation multiples and efficiency metrics by subscribing to mostlymetrics.com Shoutout to the pros at Virtua Research for their benchmarking And thanks to The F Suite for supporting my work.

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