Episode Summary:

In this episode of Start. Scale. Exit. Ivan Galvez sits down with Heather Hall, Founder & CEO of Sapphire CFO Solutions and a seasoned fintech executive, to unpack what it really takes to build a resilient business, from financial chaos to strategic clarity. Drawing from her unconventional background in anthropology, high-stakes fintech ventures, and her work as a strategic CFO, Heather shares hard-earned insights on what founders get wrong about finance and how to fix it before it’s too late.

Together, they dive into the real reasons startups fail (hint: it's not just funding), why financial storytelling matters just as much as metrics, and how founders can move from reactive to intentional when it comes to growth.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why skipping a basic budget is one of the most expensive mistakes early-stage founders make
• How Heather went from anthropology to Silicon Valley builder to fintech co-founder
• What every startup should track monthly even before generating revenue
• Why “cash runway” matters more than revenue in your first year
• How to prepare for fundraising and the investor red flags to avoid
• The role of a fractional CFO and when to bring one in
• How to avoid premature hiring and financial overreach
• Why real financial leadership means visibility, not just spreadsheets
• How to blend empathy and data to scale smarter
• Why a mission aligned financial strategy is a founder’s superpower

💡 Golden Nugget:

"Startups don’t die because of a lack of funding—they die from a lack of financial clarity. You don’t need a 40-page model. You need to know what you’re spending, what’s working, and what’s not."

Mentioned in the Episode:

• sapphirecfosolutions.com – Heather’s fractional CFO firm for SaaS & tech startups
• “Cash Is Queen” – Heather’s upcoming workshop series on financial fluency and founder readiness
• Google Sheets – Still the most underrated startup survival tool

Connect with Heather Hall:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heatherhallcpa
• Website: https://www.sapphirecfosolutions.com/

Listen Now & Subscribe:

Spotify | Apple Podcast

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