Podcasts about cfos

Title: Inside the Secret Network That Billionaires Use to Pay Zero In Taxes with Alex Sonkin Summary: In this episode of Raise the Bar Radio, Seth Bradley welcomes Alex, founder of the Due Diligence Project, to discuss the massive blind spot in tax strategy among CPAs and how his peer-reviewed CPA community solves that. Alex shares how traditional CPA firms, despite servicing ultra-high net worth clients, are often unaware of the vast number of advanced tax mitigation strategies available. His platform introduces vetted tax strategies reviewed by hundreds of independent CPA firms, much like an Amazon or Netflix model for financial services. Rather than relying on static, siloed in-house teams with mediocre solutions, Alex's vision is to empower CPAs and family offices through a Virtual Family Office model. This allows affluent individuals (not just billionaires) to access world-class, peer-reviewed tax and financial planning strategies while maintaining their trusted CPA relationship. The conversation emphasizes humility, proactive due diligence, and massive action as critical principles for success in tax planning and entrepreneurship alike. Links to Watch and Subscribe: https://youtu.be/v8RSrMRslHU Bullet Point Highlights: Most CPAs, even in top firms, are not deeply versed in advanced tax mitigation due to limited time and exposure. The Due Diligence Project functions as an independent, peer-reviewed network, allowing CPAs to tap into the collective knowledge of hundreds of top professionals. Traditional large CPA firms and Wall Street structures are siloed and don't provide open-source best-in-class strategies. The future CPA firm is a Virtual Family Office — proactive, advisory-driven, and built with world-class independent specialists instead of static in-house teams. The Virtual Family Office model brings elite wealth management strategies to affluent individuals (e.g., $10M-$50M net worth), not just billionaires. Humility, curiosity, and willingness to collaborate are essential for CPAs and advisors to truly serve clients at the highest level. Success requires massive action and consistent pursuit of better solutions — complacency kills innovation and wealth creation. Transcript: (Seth Bradley) (00:02.094) What's up, Builders? This is Raise the Bar Radio, where we talk about building wealth, raising capital, and all in all, raising the bar in your business and your life. This is the No BS podcast for capital raisers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling their business and living life on their own terms. I'm Seth Bradley, securities attorney, real estate investor, and entrepreneur, bringing you world-class strategies from the best in the game.   If you're ready to raise more capital, close bigger deals, build a better you, and create true financial freedom, you're in the right place. Let's go. Alex, what's going on, brother? Welcome to the show.   Seth, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.   man. Fellow San Diegan. So, appreciate that and appreciate that you you love the weather like I do.   best weather in the world, All of San Diego County, even if it gets like 10 degrees hotter, it's as good or as better anything else on the planet.   (Seth Bradley) (01:05.698) Yep, yep. Sometimes you gotta go outside of San Diego for a little bit to appreciate it because you forget that every single day is fantastic.   We're not going to get into the June gloom and the May gray because people outside of San Diego, don't want to hear that. uh, know, we get to complain between each other. everyone outside of San Diego, were like, we don't want to know about any of your problems.   Right, Exactly, exactly. All right, man. Well, let's just jump right in, Tell everybody a little bit about your background, about your story, and take it back as far as you like.   Sure, graduated University of Michigan Business School undergrad and became an options trader in Chicago as a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, the Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Options Exchange was a market maker down there for many years and came up with a couple ideas and moved to California. What we do now is we have the largest independent peer review community of CPA firms in the country. We support   hundreds of CPA firms who basically introduced their favorite resources, favorite tax attorneys, favorite strategies. And then as a community and independently, everyone independently vets out every strategy, every resource. And we rank and rate all of the strategies, all of the resources. Very similar to what you'd experience in Amazon or Netflix or the streaming services when you watch a movie or you buy a product on Amazon.   (Alex Sonkin) (02:35.534) you're going to go look for the 4.9 out of five stars and do a quick price comparison. So what we did is we've created essentially an independent peer-of-view ranking and rating system for sophisticated tax strategies and then cost mitigation strategies because the tax code is just way too big. No one knows how many pages there are in the tax code. It's constantly changing. we basically, we didn't even know we were doing this at the time because all we were doing was   putting together advanced tax planning institutes, filling them up with CPA firms, bringing speakers, specialists on to present their ideas. But the magic was happening in the hallway conversations between these tax attorneys and the CPAs in these Q &A sessions. And what we realized was that traditional CPA firms really have no clue how many pages are in the tax code, have no idea how many strategies there are that are available to them that have been fully vetted.   And they don't have the time and the resources to fully vet those strategies out. So we just realized we were onto something and we kept building and building and building. And we just had an event. Our last couple summits, diligence project summits had close to 700 CPA firms on one, close to 847 was our largest summit.   The more eyeballs, the more tax-focused CPAs are looking at the strategies and vetting out the strategies, the more refined the due diligence is and the more new resources they're able to introduce to our network. So we're able to go deeper, wider, and more refined in our due diligence when it comes to tax planning.   Yeah, that's awesome. So you you analyze and put a score on the actual strategy itself as well as the firm.   (Alex Sonkin) (04:25.76) Yeah, everything, right? Because you and I both know there's so many moving parts in our business. And when a CPA firm is dealing with their most, their highest net worth clients, billionaires, centi-millionaires, multi-millionaires, and they have, they're selling an appreciated asset, whether it's real estate or their company or shares in another company they've invested in, they want that sale to be tax efficient. Then they might want that money to be invested in other   parts of their portfolio. want that transition to be efficient. They want all the estate planning to be efficient asset to all these different moving parts. But the area where most CPAs and attorneys are the weakest is in the income tax mitigation part. There's a lot of decent estate planning out there, asset protection, other planning. It's really the income tax mitigation part where very few people are excellent at this.   Financial advisors, attorneys have very little experience with tax court, with audit. They should really not be involved in income tax planning. The CPA firms are the ones who are signing the tax returns. They have the experience with audit. They have the experience with tax court. But they're spread so thin just trying to produce tax returns and financial statements and meet all of the deadlines that they have to meet throughout the year. There's actually very little time for them to do proactive tax planning.   and to complete due diligence and even start the due diligence on a tax strategy. Where do we start? Who do we call? How do we find out if the client's going to go to jail? If there's issues with this? They really need to get their confidence level up at a very high level before they call their clients that you really need to look at the strategy and do this. So that's where we really live is we really there to support the tax focused CPA or the family office that's supporting that.   that ultra high net worth family that's led by a tax focused advisor, hopefully a CPA with at least 10,000, 50,000 hours of experience in auditing tax court, where they could look at the notes, look at, part of, join the due diligence project community, look at the notes, look at the strategies, meet the specialists, communicate with other CPAs in our network to really understand the risk reward of.   (Alex Sonkin) (06:48.088) the strategy when it as how it compares to other possible strategies or combination of strategies to bring to their client.   Yeah, yeah. I mean, I love the overall idea of kind of this Amazon marketplace for CPAs and tax firms and tax strategies. It's like, you know, I know when I'm looking for a new accountant or a new CPA with a different group, with a different real estate group or something, you know, I might have done some good business with one CPA and then some that I did not. And I don't have a consistent person to go to at this point. And it also depends on what we're talking about, right? This, the, the speciality of it. it's a   if we're talking W-2 tax mitigation or we're talking about real estate investment or we're talking about some sort of high cash flow entrepreneurial venture, it really depends. One CPA can't necessarily do all that. Maybe a large CPA firm that has all that stuff in house for sure. But when we're talking about your one CPA that you know that's been filing your tax return for the last 20 years, they're not very specialized in these sorts of things.   Here's what's interesting, Seth. You made some interesting points here. Here's what's interesting. Traditionally, people say, I need a CPA. My current CPA firm is not doing the job. That's kind of par for the course. They don't know what's wrong. They know something's wrong because they know that a lot of billionaires aren't paying any taxes. They're paying this 30, 40 % of their income in taxes. They feel something's wrong. So, I need a new CPA firm. So, what do they do? Hey, can you find me a great CPA firm that's local to me? Why is that important?   Why do you need someone that literally that is that's local to you right away? The business owner is already messing up. That is not the most important thing. Okay, then they'll want someone Okay, forget distance. I'm okay with just meeting them virtually. They need to be a specialist in real estate. That's fine Okay, you've got a real estate portfolio there, especially in real estate, but really That's that's a that's another that's a good question, but it's not the best question. It's not gonna get you to the promised land   (Alex Sonkin) (08:52.366) How fluent is that CPA firm in tax strategies? Are they plugged into a network like ours where they have hundreds and hundreds of independent CPA firms, former partners of KPMG, Deloitte, PWC, Ernst & Young, all proactively vetting strategies and introducing, unless you're part of a due diligence network like ours, you might be part of a very, very large CPA firm.   that also is part of other groups, other associations and none of them know, you know, three, four, five different strategies that would be perfect for mitigating taxes in a specific situation. So going to a large firm that has lots of in-house resources, are those resources the best? Do they have access to the best tax attorneys in the country? If those attorneys are in-house working for a CPA firm,   Or let's just say they're working for Jeff Bezos and Jeff Bezos' family office. Seth, do you think the best tax attorney in the country wants to be W-2 working for a CPA firm or working for a family   Right, right.   No, no. So right away, you've already discounted. You are not going to work with the best tax attorneys in the country. You're going to work with a static, the best attorney that's willing to be W-2, working for a CPA firm, working for a family office. If you look at the top 1000 tax attorneys in the country, you might now be working with number 945. Is that what you want to be like? No, no, no, we're fine. Our tax   (Alex Sonkin) (10:29.484) Our tax planning is done by my CPA and they've got this tax attorney that's the 945th best tax attorney in the country in their space. It's like saying, I'm building this orchestra and my trumpet player, instead of getting the very best trumpet player in the world, I have the 945th best trumpet player playing trumpet. You want to put that on your website? You want to market that? think your client's going to be like, this is going to be awesome. I'm going to have the 945th best.   You   (Alex Sonkin) (10:59.138) Resource in that space giving me planning ideas. Whereas I'm a business owner I've had to get to this point to have a tax problem here to overcome all these challenges and now you're gonna bring me a tax planning solution. That's like D minus That's what's going that's puts par for the course. This is what's going on. What we know is 18 % of Fortune 500 companies are zeroing out their tax returns Okay, just listen to this 18 %   of most profitable companies in the world have a team of attorneys and CPAs that zero out their tax return. That means 82 % have no idea what they're doing on a relative basis. those 82%, we're talking about 82 % of the most profitable 500 companies in the world. What we're saying is their tax planning from our vantage point, it's not that it's not good.   It's like average to below average, whereas their revenue and income is off the charts. That's like a big problem. It's like saying, you know what? We have a basketball team where our point guard, our forwards, and our two guard are really good, but our center is like garbage. You know, we've got like a high school level center, and then we have all-stars at all the other positions. That's not gonna work.   Yeah, yeah. mean, why is that? I mean, it's like, you know, they should have access to the best resources. They should be getting advised by the, you know, the top experts in the industry. But, you know, they're just not. Are they not putting the effort? Do they not have access? Do they not know, like, what's the...   Because the difference is when you look at Amazon and you look at Netflix and all the other streaming services that are providing an independent peer-review because back before Amazon and Netflix we had Blockbuster video and we had Barnes and Noble right and we did do diligence very differently going to all the different Blockbuster videos going into Blockbusters and Noble trying to find a book to buy right it's very different experience now we live in this very different world now with   (Alex Sonkin) (13:09.196) independent peer review and all these things. However, the financial services world was created by who? It was created by people like Bernie Madoff. It was created by Wall Street, right? So everything in the financial services world is really created by Wall Street, people like Bernie Madoff. And so Goldman Sachs doesn't want you to know what Morgan Stanley is doing. Morgan Stanley doesn't want you to know what JP Morgan's doing. And so really the financial services realm is   is kind of built in silos. No, come into the Goldman Sachs silo. Come into Ernst & Young. You don't need to worry about what our competitors are doing, what these other CPA firms are doing. We're Ernst & Young, we're Goldman Sachs, we're JP Morgan. You can have the products and services that we have in our back room. So essentially, when you look at JP Morgan, Ernst & Young, Pricewaterhouse, all these huge shops, they're just stores with back rooms. And it's like shopping at a store.   It's like going to Toys R Us. What do we have in Toys R Us? Well, what do we have in our back room? Whereas when you walk into Amazon, what do you have? When you walk into Netflix, you have the full scale universe, open source. So what we've done is we've basically taken the financial services industry and we've created this open source peer-reviewed model. And we started with sophisticated tax planning because that's where most people are really, really bad at it.   And then we've added cost mitigation and other resources. You know, we're not trying to compete with asset management and money managers and all those other, know, certainly we vet those people out. But, you know, there's millions of people that manage money and our financial advisors. And certainly we do our vetting and due diligence on those people. Where we really differentiate ourselves is the income tax planning resources and solutions. Because what we found is the top biggest   most profitable, most famous CPA firms and law firms, that's their blind spot. That's where they're really, really bad because they don't know how many are in the tax code. They don't have the time and the resources and they don't know who to call to actually start and complete a successful due diligence process for sophisticated tax structure.   (Seth Bradley) (15:29.708) Yeah, yeah. So when you say independent peer review, what exactly does that look like? mean, walk me kind of through that and how that works.   I'll show you like this is what you and any let's say if you're a real estate investor right and you're about to sell let's just say a 10 million dollar asset that has nine million dollars of gain in it you're gonna do the same thing that we've done if you're smart what are you gonna do you're gonna go out there and be like what are all the tax strategies that are possible to help me mitigate this huge tax liquidity event right then you're gonna get a bunch of ideas and then what are you gonna do   You're going to show those ideas to your most trusted financial people who are probably your CPA, your lawyer, your advisors, all these other people that you think are financial gurus and really most of them are not even qualified to comment on the tax structure except your tax-focused CPA who has at least 10,000 hours of experience in audit and tax courts. So really you should only bring this to your CPA. But now you brought it to your attorneys and your advisors.   So they're all going to comment on it because they're financial experts even though they have almost zero experience in auditing the tax court. So what do these people do with this idea? Some of them will like, oh, I don't know, just pay your tax. So you're going to get all sorts of answers. Now, you're the business owner. You have no idea how to quantify these answers. So you're really the tax expert trying to manage all this information and trying to be like, what do I do? And what are you going to do?   you're gonna basically go with what your CPA kind of tells you that they're comfortable with. Now your CPA doesn't know all the strategies, so they might know 10 % of the possible strategies. So you're gonna go with the most comfortable strategy that your CPA is comfortable with, that they've completed their due diligence on, which may be strategy number 443 out of the possible thousand strategies that are out there. And now you have the 443rd best idea.   (Alex Sonkin) (17:35.522) that you're implementing and your ROI on that is going to look just like that. Meanwhile, it's taking you all this effort to create $10 million of asset and it's going to take you just like this to completely give away the tax on that because your CPA is not plugged into an independent peer review environment where they can work with other CPAs who have experience with other resources, be able to ask your questions, get your questions answered, maybe ask another round of questions.   But really at that point, you really need to be dealing with the thought leaders in that space, not some local attorney or other CP that also has no clue what's going on. It has no idea how many pages there are.   Got it. So when somebody comes to, you know, they have that issue, right? And they're trying to find the right CPA that can help them with that specific situation and find that number one best tax strategy. You know, what do they do? Do they come to your website to try to find someone in the network? Because anybody in your network can tap into everybody else in your network and find that optimum strategy.   There's really two ways of doing it. They either find a CPA in our network, which is one of the easiest things to do, or they have their trusted CPA plug into our network and complete their due diligence. That's probably the best way because they are this way. This gives them another warm and fuzzy. Hey, I've had this relationship with my CPA for 20, 30 years. I really like them. I understand the challenges that they're under just because they haven't plugged into the network doesn't mean they're a bad CPA or bad person.   It's like having a, you know, I just bought a gold plated cell phone. It's the greatest cell phone iPhones ever produced. But if I don't plug it into Verizon, if I plug it into Bob's telephone network that only works in four locations in America, I'm gonna have this $5,000 cell phone that's basically just a brick that I could just use as a paper holder. But if I have a normal cell phone, I plug it into Verizon and I can make a phone call from anywhere.   (Alex Sonkin) (19:43.298) That's a much better experience. it's not the quality of it. It's partially the quality of the CPA, but it's more so the quality of the network. and certainly these, the CPAs that really are attracted to us are the ones who have these huge hearts that want to do the very, very best for their clients. And they know that they need to pick up every rock and flip over because they know their clients don't want tax returns and financial statements.   They need those. They don't want any of that. What they really want is proactive tax planning ideas. And what the CPAs don't have time for is that. So they have to create time. And we show CPAs how to create that time. We eliminate all, 95 % of the time. It takes them to complete the due diligence because we just show them the notes. We get them 90, 95 % there. Then they take the notes. They take the resources.   They jump into the tax code and then they complete the last 5-10 % of the due diligence process on their own because they're going to have to actually do a little bit of work to get this done. But we've reduced their time and increased their confidence level in completing this project by a factor of 10x, which is a huge value to them because they don't have the time and they don't have the resource to get this work done, but they want to get it   (Seth Bradley) (21:07.616) the interruption, but we don't do ads. Instead, know that if you're raising capital for real estate, my law firm, RaiseLaw, is here to give you the expert legal guidance you need to raise capital compliantly and structure and close your deal. And if you're looking for a done-for-you fund-to-fund solution, Tribest is the industry's only all-in-one setup and fund administration solution. Visit Raise.Law and Tribest.com to learn more.   Right. Yeah. And I can imagine it takes a certain degree of humility, right, from those CPAs to say, I don't know everything. I'm not just going to make up something. I'm not going to make it up. But I'm not going to do kind of half-assed research for a few minutes and tell you I know everything about the subject. Right? Like, I can admit that I don't know everything. I'm not an expert in every single tax strategy.   You nailed it. mean look we do a whole program about the ten pillars of extraordinary due diligence Curiosity is one of them independence is independence versus group think and you nailed one of those pillars. It's it's it's it's humility and You know being curious being humble when you're the tax expert as you know CPA that's been around for 30 years you like I've seen everything right? That's kind of how you feel   But if you have that idea, I've already seen everything. I already know everything. How many people, by the way, how many pages are there in the tax code? I have no idea. Well, that is that's not congruent. What's congruent is I've been in the industry 30, 35 years. Do I know the tax code? I don't know the tax code. It's constantly changing. I'm humble, but I'm working hard. Yeah, there are sections of tax codes that I know, but it would be awesome to be part of independent peer community of hundreds and hundreds of other tax geeks like me.   where we're chewing, know, we're eating this elephant one bite at a time and working together as a community. That's hard working humility. And if you think about it, those are the kind of people that are winning in every, in your profession, in my profession. Think about a basketball player. It's like the best basketball players, they are working to improve their game every day, every month, every year. As soon as you think, oh, I'm the best. Nobody does that. Kobe, Michael.   (Alex Sonkin) (23:25.034) Everyone was constantly improving their game every offseason even though they were achieving they were the grace of the world So when you see a CPA going, I already know everything. I'm not humble run for the hills You're in big trouble   Right, right. So I mean, I can see where this is. This could actually just change everything, right? I mean, it can change. Like if you get enough CPAs on this network and it's kind of the authority, the accepted way that things are done, it could really just change, you know, set the bar, right? So like, you know, where do you see the CPA firm or the future going? What does it look   Yeah, you know, we started out as the virtual family office hub. We're still the virtual family office hub. What we do is the due diligence project. So we've had a vision, you know, more than 15 years ago where the CPA firm of future, the CPA firm of today is no longer just a CPA firm, right? They're not just an accounting firm looking backwards. What does a CPA firm mean now? They're a proactive looking firm. So they're really   providing advisory services. They're bringing ideas to the table. That is not what accountants traditionally do. So right away, the CPA firm of the future in our world is a virtual family office led not by a money manager or an attorney or a financial advisor. It's led by a tax advisor who really has a tremendous amount of experience with audits, with tax court, with income tax planning.   that's plugged into this community. really let's build Wall Street underneath an elite tax advisor and let's give them vetted best in class peer reviewed resources for estate planning, money management, all the different resources underneath them. And let's make sure all these resources are trained to be part of a team that's led by the captain, which is the head of their family office. But in this case, it's a virtual family office because in our opinion,   (Alex Sonkin) (25:30.732) Like we said, the best people in the world don't necessarily want to be W-2 static living next to the family office or living next to the CPA firm that they support. These resources could be anywhere and everywhere. And it's like Lego pieces. Let's build out a custom build, a virtual family office with your favorite advisors, with your favorite CPA, plug them into due diligence project, and then maybe replace some of the resources with best in class peer reviewed.   I'm going to keep my estate planning attorney. I'm going to keep my CPA, but then let's build out the rest of my virtual family office with resources, specialists, specialized attorneys that my two estate planning attorney and my CPA need to help me do what I need to do and get from point A to point B.   Yeah, yeah, I love that. Let's let's unwind that a little bit. What what exactly is a family office? We have a lot of listeners that are, you know, high net worth individuals, wealthy, probably a high paying job of some sort. And, we still don't know what a family office is. Like, what is a family office? We hear about it all the time. People talk about it. You know, what is it? Is it just, you know, the Trumps and the Bidens that have them or what?   Well, look, when we first started doing this, we had to educate everyone. What is a family office? And there's still people that don't know what a family office is, and that's okay. So traditionally, what a family office is, is when a family or a business owner sells their business, and now they have a big pile of money instead of running their business where they don't need CFOs and C-level executives and marketing people. Now they have a big pile of money. Maybe they're building a real estate portfolio, private equity, various investments.   They, instead of having to make 17 phone calls, hey, I'm gonna call my CPA, I'm gonna call my attorney, I'm gonna call my advisors, they make one phone call to the head of their family office and their family office is gonna house their entire financial team. So their CPAs, their attorneys, their advisors are all part of a family office and there's usually a CEO of that family office.   (Alex Sonkin) (27:36.814) So that structure traditionally can cost anywhere from $250,000 a year up to $2,000, $3,000, $4,000,000 a year if you're dealing with very high net worth billionaires. our idea was to rebuild that structure and make it a virtual family office instead of a single family office or a multi-family office with everyone working W2 in a static place, was let's create a virtual family office environment where we can have a world-class tax attorney support   multiple virtual family offices led by CPAs around the country. And based on what their clients want and need, they may not need a full $250,000 or a million dollar yearly cost. Maybe they can have a family office with $50,000 worth of yearly expenses and they just need, you know, two, three advisors, six meetings a year, get their hands around what you're doing.   And they don't need check writing. They don't need a lot of these other services that maybe a ultra high net worth family needs where they just want to make one phone call instead of 17 phone calls and say, take care of this for me. In the virtual family office model, it's the same one phone call, except now the team underneath that person that's getting the call are vetted best in class peer reviewed resources who might be all around the world who will all get together on a virtual meeting.   to support the client when the client has, hey, I have a liquidity event or I have a tax event or I want to update my plan. Hey, let's bring the team together and let's look at all the moving parts and let's rebuild your plan. But now we're going to take advice and ideas from the smartest people in the world. We're all working together as part of a team.   Got it. Yeah. the virtual family office, makes it seem like that it offers wealth management, the best wealth management, more, it makes it more accessible to more people, right? Like not just billionaires, but maybe lower than that, right? Like maybe we've got $10 million or something like that and we can still get the best of the best.   (Alex Sonkin) (29:42.068) Exactly. And so our idea was, you know, you have these people who are worth $50 million and they can't afford a family office, but they want to, you know, the $50 million, they want to live life too. They want to be able to go play tennis. They want to give time to their synagogue, their churches. They want to do something else besides actually running their own, you know, basically overseeing their $50 million portfolio, which is a full-time job. the problem is they're not qualified to be doing that work.   Yet can they identify investments that they like? Sure. Can they identify the best planning around those investments? They're not schooled in that. So they really should not be involved in their family office. should identify a tax-focused CPA, have them build out a virtual family office for them. And then now they have the benefit of making one phone call instead of 17, which saves them lot of time. And they can now trust the fact that they have best-in-class peer-reviewed resources to give them the very, very best ideas.   So now what happens? Their confidence level goes up. So their time and planning goes down, confidence level goes up, the quality of the solutions goes up, and they're all of a sudden out, they can create a lot more wealth by doing world-class planning because we're seeing a lot of wealth just go away to state and federal governments and unnecessary taxes simply because the team does not know and has not completed their due diligence on all the possibilities.   That's we want.   Yeah, that's incredible, Alex. You know, I want to have you back on the show to maybe get into some of the more of nitty gritty stuff, right? Like what are some of these tax strategies that we might not know about or we might not hear about every single day because we tend to hear about the same ones over and over. And you've probably seen some pretty exotic ones, some very specific ones that people have never even heard of. But, you know, we're running out of time today. But, man, I would love to have a whole episode just kind of based on that.   (Seth Bradley) (31:40.91) But before we jump into the freedom four, you have one last gold nugget for our listeners.   Yeah, you know, just work hard, write your goals down, read your goals and update your goals. You know, there's a magic formula of being able to just writing down your goals, looking at your goals and just updating your goals. Be grateful. I know you get a probably get a lot of people just with gratitude and hard work and all that stuff. writing down your goals is something that very few people do. And of the people that write their goals down, a very high percentage of those people actually achieve those goals. So   simple way of getting successful and I do it and I recommend that little idea to every one of my friends and family.   Yeah, absolutely. you know, I think people sometimes they get caught up in, you know, the the mental stuff, they don't want to jump into that. But goal setting is more of a tangible thing. And all those things you hear about, like whether that's a vision board or affirmations or visualizations or setting goals, like it's all kind of the same, right? It's just even if it's like,   I want to update my tax planning. I want to have a better tax planning team. know, write that down. And every day you look down at all your goals and make them balanced. You know, some of it is they'd give back to the community, have strong relationships with my family members or have no relationships with certain families. I don't know, you know, what the goals are. But balanced goals where you're constantly reviewing those goals and then you're updating those goals. And every day you do something to take a step.   (Alex Sonkin) (33:15.278) towards achieving those goals. Those are little things. It's not a huge deal, but when you do that over time, there's a compound effect to it that is incredible that people just can't appreciate. It's been said, we think we can do a lot more than we do in a year, but we don't realize how much we can do in a five or 10 year period. It's incredible.   much we can do in a five or ten year period if we're just consistent every day for that period of   Absolutely, you get some momentum going over time. All right, let's jump into the Freedom 4. What's the best thing you do to keep your mind and body healthy?   I do strength training six days a week and I actually prefer using a rubber band training. This X3 bar program that's out there. There's a bunch of different competitors now, but it's like a 20, 30 minute training.   Nice, nice. With all your success, what is one limiting belief that you've crushed along the way and how did you get past it?   (Alex Sonkin) (34:18.968) Great question. You know, I think everyone experiences fears, fear of failure in different areas. And I think you have to attack your fear of failure. Whatever you're scared of, whatever's on your radar that's popping up as a fear, you have to literally identify it and attack it and just prove to yourself that you're really not scared of it.   Love that. What's one actual step our listeners can do right now to start creating more freedom?   They can take action. Action is the key. The real problem is people just sit around, they get in front of themselves. They're too much thinking, too much analysis. What I've seen is people who have achieved incredible, let's just say business success, those people weren't smart enough to know.   that how hard that business was actually going to be to build. They were actually not, if they were smarter, they would have never done the business because they were like, the odds of me actually achieving this business and creating it are so small. I'm just better off not doing it. They weren't that smart. So they just went ahead and jumped into it. And so what I found is just taking massive, massive action. Even if it's a failure, that massive action creates a pattern because it's going to   Success is going to require massive action. And when you have a pattern and know this is going to take massive action and it's okay if it doesn't work out, I'm going to go for it anyway. I'm just going to assume it does work out. So being positive, massive action. If it fails, boom, you learn something and you go do something else and you just keep taking massive action.   (Seth Bradley) (36:10.402) Perfect. Last but not least, how's passive income or entrepreneurship made your life better?   You know, I've been very blessed. 20 years ago, I came up with an idea based on a diet that cured cancer for my aunt, my mother-in-law. And I suggested to my wife and my mother-in-law that they start selling my mother-in-law's cookies that were based on a diet that cured cancer for my mother-in-law. And so now today, we have a company called Go Macro, MacroMars, that my wife and my mother-in-law built based on an entrepreneurial idea that   you know, that I had over 20 years ago. And as soon as we had a little bit of success in the beginning, I knew this was bigger and better than we had even thought of. And I just continually supported my wife and really just in every way I could to watch this opportunity grow. So to me, that's been my my passive, even though, you know, I'm married to this business owner, you know, supporting her and watching this idea grow and flourish into a really   Successful health food company called comacro where we sell these macro bars. They're super delicious   Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, it's passive for you, maybe not quite as passive for her. I have the same issue with the gyms. You know, they make really good money and it's passive for me, but my wife is running those things, so no.   (Alex Sonkin) (37:31.174) Exactly, well you know she's had to be there to support you so yeah so for her it's passive and it's a great story for her and it's a great successful story for you as well. know how hard it is to build.   Yeah, awesome Alex. The list has been incredible, man. We're gonna let you find out more about you.   DoDiligenceProject.com or info at DoDiligenceProject.com. You can introduce your CPA to us or you can reach out to us if you hate your CPA and want us to recommend a great CPA for you that's already plugged into our...   Easy enough, man, easy enough. All right, brother, thanks for coming on the show.   Seth, it's been my pleasure. Thanks so much for having me.   (Seth Bradley) (38:09.986) Absolutely.   (Seth Bradley) (38:13.944) Thanks for tuning in to Raise the Bar Radio. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Keep pushing, keep building, and keep raising the bar. Until next time, enjoy the journey.   Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley's Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en   Alex Sonkin's Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsonkin/ https://encoursa.com/presenters/alex-sonkin https://www.facebook.com/asonkin/

School safety is not waiting for permission, it's urgent. In this episode of School Business Insider, John Brucato talks with Frank Guglieri, Director of Regional Safety Services at PNW BOCES, about rapid, real-world responses to recent crises like the Minneapolis school mass shooting and corrective action in cases of credible internal threats.They unpack what happens when crisis hits, what gaps become painfully clear, and how school business officials, operations leaders, CFOs, and SBOs can lead preparation and response. You'll walk away with actionable insights for strengthening alert systems, communications, interdepartmental drills, and districtwide readiness.Check out the Prevention, Preparedness, Partnerships and Pathways ForwardSchool Safety Benchmarks 2025-2026 here!Contact School Business Insider: Check us out on social media: LinkedIn Twitter (X) Website: https://asbointl.org/SBI Email: podcast@asbointl.org Make sure to like, subscribe and share for more great insider episodes!Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Association of School Business Officials International. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "ASBO International" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. The presence of any advertising does not endorse, or imply endorsement of, any products or services by ASBO International.ASBO International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and does not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. The sharing of news or information concerning public policy issues or political campaigns and candidates are not, and should not be construed as, endorsements by ASBO Internatio...

For too long, marketing and communications have been judged by clicks, impressions, and vanity metrics. But those numbers don't move a boardroom.  Executives talk about pipeline, revenue, market share, and shareholder value. If your work isn't tied to those outcomes, you're invisible where it matters most. In this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast, Gini Dietrich introduces The Visibility Engineer's Manifesto—a new operating model for comms and marketing leaders. You'll learn how to replace outdated reporting with PESO-driven visibility that proves growth in the language executives actually care about. What you'll hear: Why CEOs and CFOs rarely mention marketing on earnings calls How AI-powered discovery is reshaping visibility and trust The 11 principles every Visibility Engineer must follow One Day 1 action step you can take right now Download the Manifesto PDF here: https://spinsucks.com/communication/visibility-engineer-manifesto/ 

Many of us are not CFOs or finance gurus. But, understanding the financial metrics that drive the business is critical - no matter how intimidating a P&L or balance sheet can be. It can feel overwhelming thinking you need to track and understand every input and output. It just gets distracting, sending you in circles. We wanted to give you some clarity on where to focus when it comes to finances, so we welcomed on Michael Barbarita, Founder of Next Step CFO. He helps small business owners create more time freedom and more consistent profits by helping you implement financial and business strategies your competition is not using. For more about ForthRight Business by ForthRight People or for 1:1 consultation, check us out at ForthRight-Business.com And as always, if you need Strategic Counsel, don't hesitate to reach out to us at: ForthRight-People.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/forthrightpeople.marketingagency INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/forthrightpeople/ LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/forthright-people/ RESOURCES https://www.forthright-people.com/resources VIRTUAL CONSULTANCY https://www.forthright-people.com/shop

In this episode of the Millionaire Mindcast, Matty A. welcomes Ellen Wood, founder and CEO of VCFO, who pioneered the fractional CFO model and has supported more than 6,000 companies through growth and exit planning.Ellen shares her journey in building VCFO, the inspiration behind trademarking “virtual CFO,” and why more businesses are turning to fractional financial leadership. From the power of the V360 Assessment to the critical role of accountability and culture, Ellen outlines the strategies that differentiate businesses that scale successfully from those that stall.She also dives into common exit planning mistakes, the importance of preparation years in advance, and her perspective on the future of fractional CFO services as AI and private equity reshape the office of the CFO.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The origins of VCFO and the rise of fractional CFO servicesHow the V360 Assessment identifies risks and opportunitiesWhy accountability and culture are key drivers of valueThe biggest mistakes business owners make before an exitStrategies to scale successfully and retain top talentHow AI and private equity are transforming finance functionsEllen's personal lessons and advice to entrepreneursTimestamps: 01:00 – Ellen Wood's background and founding VCFO 03:30 – Building the fractional CFO model 07:00 – Expanding into HR and operational support 11:45 – Using V360 to prepare for growth and exit 17:30 – Culture and accountability as hidden value drivers 21:30 – Exit preparation: what most founders get wrong 25:45 – Scaling vs. stalling businesses 29:00 – The future of fractional CFO services 32:00 – Advice to her younger entrepreneurial selfConnect with Ellen Wood: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenewood/Episode Sponsored By:Discover Financial Millionaire Mindcast Shop: Buy the Rich Life Planner and Get the Wealth-Building Bundle for FREE! Visit: https://shop.millionairemindcast.com/CRE MASTERMIND: Visit myfirst50k.com and submit your application to join!FREE CRE Crash Course: Text “FREE” to 844-447-1555FREE Financial X-Ray: Text  "XRAY" to 844-447-1555

This week Kyle Samani joins the show to discuss the successful $1.65B raise for Forward Industries. We deep dive into how Forward Industries plan to converge between traditional markets & DeFi, the ultimate vision for the Solana treasury company, the difference between SOL & BTC DATs & why stablecoins are crypto's iPhone moment. Enjoy! Although our guest this week is an Investment Partner of a registered investment adviser, nothing in this podcast should be considered an offer of Multicoin's investment advisory services or should otherwise be confused for investment, tax, legal or other financial advice.--Follow Kyle: https://x.com/KyleSamaniFollow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitzFollow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod--Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJhStart your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts--Welcome to Get Real — Web3's first-ever campaign rewarding you for creating real-world value. Connect your devices to real-world apps on peaq and earn rewards for: Measuring noise pollution Providing compute Mapping the word And more Total prize pool: 5% of $PEAQ's initial supply. Get Real is relaunching soon — follow peaq on X and get ready.--Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/--Timestamps: --Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Facebook is undermonetized, TikTok poses an existential threat to Amazon, and ChatGPT has probably already captured most of Google's high-value users. These are the opinions of today's guest, a venture capitalist deeply embedded in consumer networks and social product investing. In this episode, CJ chats with Turner Novak, the Founder and Managing Partner of Banana Capital, host of The Peel podcast, and a man who is known for his Twitter threads and podcast interviews as much as he is for his impressive portfolio. Turner breaks down the monetization models of some of the world's biggest platforms. Together, they discuss undervalued and overvalued business models, the long-term viability of subscription models, how platforms can identify and serve their highest-value users, and how to adapt acquisition strategies as AI reshapes the customer journey. Turner also reveals what excites him for future investments and the underestimated power of memes as a marketing tool.—LINKS:Turner Novak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakTurner Novak on X (@TurnerNovak): https://x.com/TurnerNovakBanana Capital: https://www.bananacapital.vcThe Peel: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeelPodthespl.it: CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:09) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(06:15) Turner's Embarrassing Accounting Story(08:10) How Turner Became an Accidental Influencer(09:02) Monetizing Content(12:22) How Turner Built His Media Platform(16:02) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(20:26) From Fantasy VC Portfolios to Podcasting(24:30) Turner's Main Business: Media Versus VC(25:42) Monetizing Premium Experiences on Social Products(30:27) Finding and Targeting High-Value Customers(32:27) Memes as a Tool for Marketing(36:10) Identifying High-Value Users and Opportunities(41:00) Why Pinterest Is Undermonetized(42:57) TikTok Versus Amazon for E-Commerce(46:30) Is ChatGPT Coming for Facebook and Google's Cash Flow(48:36) Facebook as an Undermonetized Business(54:24) The Long-Term Viability of Subscriptions(1:00:31) Customer Acquisition in a Platform-Dominated World(1:04:09) Paid Acquisition in the Era of AI(1:06:23) The Increasing Cost of CAC(1:08:59) What Turner Is Investing in Now(1:15:25) Doing Hard Things as a Moat(1:19:12) Wrap—SPONSORS:Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.#VentureCapital #BusinessModels #GoogleVsChatGPT #ConsumerNetworks #SocialCommerce This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

This week, we went live to discuss Pump's rebound, Base's token exploration and potential effects on ETH, Optimism, and Arbitrum, and Solana DAT inflows, ETF prospects, and market mechanics around liquidity, fees, and inflation.  Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more.  Go to app.katana.network to check it out.  -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards.  A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.  Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/  -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code 0x100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Blockworks is hiring a Research Data Analyst. If you live in SQL and love making sense of onchain chaos, apply today: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks?utm_source=EQPb2dAAxr -- Follow Ian: https://x.com/Ian_Unsworth Follow Teddy: https://x.com/Teddy_oost Follow Ryan: https://x.com/_ryanrconnor Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:54) Pumpfun's Dominance (38:59) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (40:08) Is A Base Token Coming? (59:26) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (1:00:33) Solana DATs -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode of Atlanta Business Radio, host Lee Kanter interviews Darren Joel, Atlanta Regional Director of The CFO Center. Darren explains how The CFO Center provides fractional CFO services, offering experienced financial leadership to small and medium-sized businesses on a flexible basis. He discusses ideal client profiles, common triggers for seeking fractional CFOs, and […]

In this episode of Atlanta Business Radio, host Lee Kanter interviews Darren Joel, Atlanta Regional Director of The CFO Center. Darren explains how The CFO Center provides fractional CFO services, offering experienced financial leadership to small and medium-sized businesses on a flexible basis. He discusses ideal client profiles, common triggers for seeking fractional CFOs, and […] The post From Startups to Exits: How Fractional CFOs Can Guide Your Business Through Every Stage appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

In this must-watch episode of Holistic Investments, host Constantin Kogan sits down with crypto veteran David J. Namdar, CEO of BNB Network Company! With over 10 years in the game, David shares his wild journey: from pitching Bitcoin to Millennium hedge fund in 2013 (and getting rejected for lacking shorts!), co-founding Galaxy Digital with Mike Novogratz during the 2017 bull run, launching the 2nd Bitcoin ETF attempt (right after the Winklevoss twins), and now leading the charge in digital asset treasuries as CEO of BNB Network Company (NASDAQ: BNC).Why BNB? David breaks down why BNB is the "digital equity infrastructure" powering Binance's 290M users and 40% of global crypto trading volume – outpacing Coinbase's market share 8x! Backed by CZ's Easy Labs (largest investor) and Tangem Capital, CA Industries holds the biggest BNB treasury on the planet. Learn how this MicroStrategy-inspired strategy (but for BNB) could 10x your exposure without direct access to Binance in the US. David predicts BNB surpassing XRP by end of 2025 – and why tokenized stocks, 24/7 markets, and AI agents will supercharge BNB Chain over Ethereum.Key Highlights:

Jobseeker behavior is changing with Gen AI and social media becoming ever stronger forces of influencers in career choices. However, a lot of recruitment marketing activity is failing to keep up with employers stuck in a rut and not casting the net wide enough or in the right way. Shockingly, many TA teams still lack basic visibility into their recruitment marketing metrics and can't prove ROI to their CFOs. While candidates increasingly use ChatGPT for job searches, few employers have optimized their content for AI discovery, and many career sites still remain conversion killers. So what should employers be doing, and how can they prepare for 2026? My guest this week is Neil Costa, Founder and CEO of HireClicks. In our conversation, Neil reveals the stark reality of where most organizations actually are with their recruitment marketing efforts and offers some valuable advice on how they should be moving forward. In the interview, we discuss: The current challenges in recruitment marketing How employers need to stand out and appeal to a multigenerational audience Overreliance on Indeed and LinkedIn The role of search and social AI optimisation Getting a competitive talent advantage Keeping marketing momentum with reduced budgets The vital importance of metrics and ROI The importance of authenticity Dynamic personalization and the role of career sites What does the future look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

This week we went live to discuss Solana DATs, Tether's USAT announcement, and Gemini's IPO. We also dove into launchpads and narrative cycles, creator-coin streaming experiments, and Hyperliquid's USDH.Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Bitcoin DeFi is heating up on Aptos, the BTCFi growth chain with nearly $400M in BTC assets supported by a secure, fast, and affordable MVM environment. Aptos users can acquire, hold, and earn attractive BTCFi yields via Echo aBTC and OKX xBTC, without typical bridge risks and high fees.  Explore BTC yield opportunities on Aptos via OKX Earn and Aptos-native platforms https://web3.okx.com/earn/activity/xbtc-aptos  -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards.  A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.  Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/  -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code 0x100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Blockworks is hiring a Research Data Analyst. If you live in SQL and love making sense of onchain chaos, apply today: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks?utm_source=EQPb2dAAxr -- Follow James: https://x.com/JamesChristoph_ Follow Noah: https://x.com/TraderNoah Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (4:30) Solana DATs (18:16) Ads (Aptos & EigenCloud) (19:09) The DAT Debate (26:51) Tether Announces USAT (36:29) The Gemini IPO (46:12) Ads (Aptos & EigenCloud) (47:20) Launchpads and Narrative Cycles (1:18:24) Hyperliquid's USDH -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week FP Lee joins the show to discuss the next chapter of Sanctum. We deep dive into the future of liquid staking on Solana, LST market share, how does Sanctum generate revenue, the impact of DATs in DeFi & more. Enjoy! -- Follow FP: https://x.com/soleconomist Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code LIGHT100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more. Go to app.katana.network to check it out. -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- (00:00) Introduction (03:32) The Sanctum Business Model (07:22) LST Market Dominance (11:23) Katana Ad (12:16) Eigenlayer Ad (13:15) Sanctum: The Clearing House For Staked SOL (16:29) Sanctum's Thesis On LSTs (19:49) Execution Risk (23:32) The Future Of Liquid Staking On Solana (29:32) The Role Of Jito (33:02) Katana Ad (33:54) Eigenlayer Ad (34:55) A New Era For Sanctum (38:35) How Does Sanctum Generate Revenue? (41:27) Are DATs A New Catalyst For DeFi? (44:35) Futarchy (50:45) Crypto's Token Incentives (53:47) Final Thoughts -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron discusses one of the most critical hires a business can make, a role that directly impacts leadership alignment, financial clarity, and long-term success: the Chief Financial Officer or CFO.The conversation highlights how small red flags during the hiring process, such as scheduling mishaps or lack of accountability, can be early indicators of deeper issues that shouldn't be ignored. You'll learn why asking tough, direct questions in interviews can uncover whether a candidate truly embodies the ownership and resilience needed for high-stakes leadership.Discover the relationship between this leadership role and the CEO, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and mutual respect. Since not every CEO has the technical expertise to fully evaluate the position, Cameron shows how leaning on outside advisors or experienced professionals can provide the necessary insight to set clear expectations and define success from the outset. This ensures that both sides are aligned on responsibilities and performance measures.This episode offers practical guidance for any company seeking to strengthen its executive team and navigate the complexities of making the right leadership decision. Before you hire your next CFO, hear Cameron's insider strategies for defining the role and setting clear expectations.If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!Enjoy!In This Episode You'll Learn:The nuances of hiring a CFO, including addressing red flags and setting clear expectations. The importance of outside experts like fractional CFOs or accounting firms in defining roles and setting new CFOs up for success. The role of outside experts in guiding a new CFO and ensuring they meet the company's needs.The value of having a fractional CFO participate in the interview process to assess the candidate's skills. And much more...Resources:Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInGet Cameron's latest book – "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO"Get Cameron's online course – Invest In Your LeadersConnect with Cameron on DephiDisclaimer:The views, information, or opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Second in Command podcast or its affiliates. The content provided is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Listeners should consult with a professional for specific advice tailored to their situation. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that any reliance on the content is at your own risk.

Is it too soon to leverage agentic automation to drive AI transformation, streamline workflows, and boost productivity in finance? And how do you calculate the ROI of AI? Today's guest runs a high-functioning finance team at a company that's at the forefront of AI, where bonuses are tied to AI adoption. In this episode, CJ interviews Hitesh Ramani, Deputy CFO and Chief Accounting Officer at UiPath. After sharing wisdom from his years at Deloitte on the “muscle memory” that a company needs pre-IPO and mistakes to avoid after going public, he explains how his company is using its own technology to transform the finance function. He breaks down the difference between agents, robots, and workflows, describing what each does and how they interact. The conversation covers what it's like to manage org charts that include humans and AI agents, how to hire for the future of tech-savvy finance teams, and UiPath's vision for near-autonomous finance operations. Hitesh also reveals real-world AI use cases inside UiPath and offers lessons learned on embracing AI as a powerful productivity partner while maintaining trust and governance.—LINKS:LINKS:Hitesh Ramani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitesh-ramani-a4a78118/UiPath: https://www.uipath.comMeghan Curtin McKenna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-curtin-mckenna-%F0%9F%94%A5-66a5022b/ FIF Collective: https://www.fifcollective.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:04) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(06:19) Going Public Versus Being Public(09:50) The Need for a Company-Wide Operating Rhythm Pre-IPO(12:30) Top Mistakes To Avoid Before Going Public(16:01) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(20:06) Common Foot Faults After Going Public(23:57) Robots Versus Agents(30:17) RPA Versus AI(31:09) Agents & Workflows(34:05) Accountability: Outsourcing Your Agency(39:46) How To Measure ROI on AI(45:06) Scaling With Robots & Agents(48:15) Budgeting for People and Automation(50:41) High-Impact Versus Low-Impact Ideas in AI Implementation(53:36) Hiring & Developing Tech-Savvy Finance Talent(57:36) Build Versus Buy & Building an Autonomous Workflow(1:00:15) The Future of Autonomous Finance(1:01:14) Use Cases for AI at UiPath(1:03:18) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Career Mistake(1:04:25) Advice to Younger Self(1:05:58) Finance Software Stack and the Future of In-House Systems(1:10:14) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.#AutonomousFinance #IPOJourney #AIinFinance #FutureOfFinance #AIAdoption This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

The most successful enterprises are about to become autonomous — and Eléonore Crespo, Co-CEO of Pigment, is building the nervous system that makes it possible. In this conversation, Eléonore reveals how her $400 million AI platform is already running supply chains for Coca-Cola, powering finance for the hottest newly public companies like Figma and Klarna, and processing thousands of financial scenarios for Uber and Snowflake faster and more accurately than any human team ever could.Eléonore predicts Excel will outlive most AI companies (but maybe only as a user interface, not a calculation engine) explains why she deliberately chose to build from Paris instead of Silicon Valley, and shares her contrarian take on why the AI revolution will create more CFOs, not fewer.You'll discover why Pigment's three-agent system (Analyst, Modeler, Planner) avoids the hallucination problems plaguing other AI companies, how they achieved human-level accuracy in financial analysis, and the accelerating timeline for fully autonomous enterprise planning that will make your current workforce obsolete.PigmentWebsite - https://www.pigment.comTwitter - https://x.com/gopigmentEléonore CrespoLinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/eleonorecrespoFIRSTMARKWebsite - https://firstmark.comTwitter - https://twitter.com/FirstMarkCapMatt Turck (Managing Director)LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/turck/Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattturck(00:00) Intro (01:22) Building Pigment: 500 Employees, $400M Raised, 60% US Revenue (03:20) From Quantum Physics to Google to Index Ventures (06:56) Why Being a VC Was the Perfect Founder Training Ground (11:35) The Impatience Factor: What Makes Great Founders (13:27) Hiring for AI Fluency in the Modern Enterprise (14:54) Pigment's Internal AI Strategy: Committees and Guardrails (17:30) The Three AI Agents: Analyst, Modeler, and Planner (22:15) Why Three Agents Instead of One: Technical Architecture (24:10) Agent Coordination: How the Supervisor Agent Works (24:46) Real Example: Budget Variance Analysis Across 50 Products (27:15) The Human-in-the-Loop Approach: Recommendations Not Actions (27:36) Solving Hallucination: Why Structured Data Changes Everything (30:08) Behind the Scenes: Verification Agents and Audit Trails (31:57) Beyond Accuracy: Enabling the Impossible at Scale (36:21) Will AI Finally Kill Excel? Eleanor's Contrarian Take (38:23) The Vision: Fully Autonomous Enterprise Planning (40:55) Real-Time Supply Chain Adaptation: The Ukraine Example (42:20) Multi-LLM Strategy: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Partner Integration (44:32) Token Economics: Why Pigment Isn't Token-Intensive (48:30) Customer Adoption: Excitement vs. Change Management Challenges (50:51) Top-Down AI Demand vs. Bottom-Up Implementation Reality (53:08) The Reskilling Challenge: Everyone Becomes a Mini CFO (57:38) Building a Global Company from Europe During COVID (01:00:02) Managing a US Executive Team from Paris (01:01:14) SI Partner Strategy: Why Boutique Firms Come Before Deloitte (01:03:28) The $100 Billion Vision: Beyond Performance Management (01:05:08) Success Metrics: Innovation Over Revenue

Ireland's electric vehicle market is booming, with registrations up 69% in August and over 20,000 new EVs licensed so far in 2025 - a 37% increase year-on-year. With one in six new cars now electric, EVs are becoming the mainstream choice for both drivers and businesses. This rapid growth makes the return of the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show to Dublin's RDS Simmonscourt this November especially timely - uniting industry leaders, public sector decision-makers and consumers for Ireland's largest ever showcase of electric mobility, clean energy and sustainable transport. The Nevo Electric Vehicle Show, in partnership with Bank of Ireland, is set to return to Dublin's RDS Simmonscourt this November with its most ambitious programme yet. Running across two days, Friday 7th November for businesses and Saturday 8th November for the general public, it will be Ireland's largest ever event dedicated to electric vehicles, clean energy, and sustainable mobility. Bank of Ireland is once again the show's title partner in 2025 while SSE Airtricity will continue as the exclusive Energy Partner, reflecting the growing importance of energy solutions in driving Ireland's shift to electrification. Every automotive brand operating in Ireland will be present, alongside exhibitors spanning public and home charging, solar energy, personal and public electric transport, smart home technology and wider energy services. Business day, on Friday, 7 November, is designed to help businesses, fleets, and the Public Sector of all sizes plan for a sustainable future. With climate targets looming, the event will bring together CEOs, CFOs, Heads of Fleet and Sustainability from across Ireland. The agenda will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions and case studies from organisations already transitioning to electric mobility. Workshops will be hosted throughout the day by GEOTAB, ESB, SSE, Activ8 Energies and Pragmatica, covering topics such as fleet management, smart energy, and business strategy development. The goal is to empower decision-makers to accelerate their journey towards net zero while also gaining practical advice on costs, infrastructure, and policy. For the general public on Saturday, 8 November, the Nevo EV Show promises a full day of discovery, excitement and hands-on experiences. Over 120 electric vehicles will be on display across 56 stands, representing 34 car brands. Nissan is confirmed as the official vehicle launch partner this year, where the brand will unveil the all-new Micra and the latest Leaf, marking their first official appearance in Ireland, giving visitors an exclusive first look. More than 30 vehicles will be available to test drive as part of the SSE Airtricity Driving Experience, while ESB ecars will showcase 12 vehicles in the new live demonstration area with EV expert Derek Reilly offering insights into performance, design and features. Visitors can also look forward to exclusive vehicle launches from more leading brands, expert panel discussions on everything from vehicle grants to charging, and a chance to explore the very latest in sustainable transport solutions. Attendance is once again expected to be significant! Organisers are targeting 10,000 registrations for the business day and 20,000 attendees for the public day, backed by a nationwide marketing campaign and strong support from event partners including Bank of Ireland, SSE Airtricity, ESB ecars, GEOTAB, ZEVI and SEAI. The Nevo EV Show aims to build on the extraordinary success of last year's event, which attracted almost 20,000 visitors. With a broader programme, bigger displays and more vehicles than ever before, the 2025 edition is shaping up to be Ireland's definitive showcase of the electric future. Admission is free, but registration is required. Tickets for both the Business Day and Public Day are available now at nevo.ie.

Do you really need a CFO, or is your accountant enough? If you're a group practice owner wondering whether your current accountant is giving you the insight you actually need to scale, this episode is for you. I sat down with Carter Freeman to talk about the evolving role of CFOs in therapy practices, and how CFO services - especially fractional CFO services - can help you grow smarter, not harder. We dig into the real differences between a CFO vs. accountant, why clinical leaders need more than just number crunching, and how financial strategy impacts everything from hiring decisions to clinical outcomes. If you've ever thought, “My accountant doesn't do that,” this conversation will open your eyes. Here's what we cover in this episode: The key differences between a CFO vs. accountant - and why your practice likely needs both at different stages Why fractional CFO services might be your best next hire (even if you're not ready for a full-time CFO) How CFO services help align financial decisions with clinical growth and long-term sustainability Real-world cash flow management techniques that Carter uses with growing group practices What accountants for therapists should be doing - and where their role stops short of strategic leadership Whether you're planning to expand, hire nonclinical staff, diversify services, or even prep for a sale, understanding the role of a CFO is key. Carter and I break down the signs that it's time to bring one in and how to leverage financial leadership that moves your practice forward. Listen to the full episode now to learn how CFO services, fractional CFO services, and smarter cash flow management techniques can elevate your group practice beyond basic accounting.   LINKS: Need extra support? Join The Exchange, a membership community just for group practice owners.  The Group Practice Exchange Programs + Courses The Accountability Equation™ Quiz The Accountability Equation Book Group Practice Forecasting Support GPT   CONNECT WITH MAUREEN WERRBACH & THE GROUP PRACTICE EXCHANGE: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   CONNECT WITH CARTER FREEMAN: Website LinkedIn   SPONSORS: TherapyNotes: An EHR software that helps behavioral health professionals manage their practice with confidence and efficiency. Go to therapynotes.com/r/thegrouppracticeexchange for two free months!  GreenOak Accounting: An accounting firm that specializes in working with group practices. Mention TGPE to get $100 off your first month!  

Profitability is a word that makes many lawyers cringe. We know firms measure it, but the methods and metrics often feel murky—or worse, toxic to firm culture. Still, ignoring profitability is not an option if you want to succeed and thrive in BigLaw. In this episode, I break down what profitability really means inside large firms, why it's far more than just gross billings, and how to take control of the numbers that impact your compensation, partnership prospects, and long-term career.  From cost structures and volume to realization and collections, I share how firms evaluate lawyers and practices, and the concrete steps you can take to ensure you're seen as a profitable and valuable member of your firm. At a Glance: 00:00 Why profitability is uncomfortable for many lawyers but unavoidable in firm evaluations 01:20 Why profitability metrics can feel toxic and how firms define them in different ways 02:39 Revenue versus profitability—why $5 million billed doesn't mean $5 million in profit 03:59 Partner cost per revenue dollar and how staffing models impact profitability 05:10 High-volume, lower-margin practices versus high-margin, resource-intensive matters 07:11 Comparing a $15 million practice with 15% margin to an $8 million practice with 30% margin 08:12 Why collections matter more than billings if the firm isn't getting paid 08:41 Understanding your standard rate, average billed rate, and why the gap matters 10:06 Realization rate explained with examples and what your firm expects from you 12:38 Collections as the true test of profitability and what firms conclude about lawyers who can't collect 14:18 The risks of unreliable clients, poor billing practices, or weak client control 15:28 How cost allocations and overhead factor into your profitability picture 16:22 Using dashboards, financial analysts, and legal operations pros to understand your data 17:13 Asking the right questions of CFOs and practice leaders to align with benchmarks 17:36 Why profitability is multi-dimensional and how to shift the conversation from toxic to strategic Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.  For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast  

New Zealand's finance leaders are more confident for the year ahead. A new report from the Hunter Campbell Group shows an uptick in confidence from CFOs, with 38% expecting modest to strong growth over the next 12 months – up from 31% last year. But on the flip side, confidence in the Government's ‘responsiveness' remains low across the board. Hunter Campbell Managing Partner Lee Marshall told Mike Hosking they're starting to see a two speed economy take shape in New Zealand, with almost half of businesses surveyed meeting or exceeding their targets, while the other half stagnated or went backwards. He says in general, those whose businesses performed well in the last 12 months are very confident things will continue to improve in the next 12 months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a single bill threatens to leave 10+ million Americans uninsured and hospitals on the brink?In this episode, host Dr. Bradley Block reunites with Adam Block, PhD, to break down Trump's sweeping healthcare legislation, HR 1—dubbed the "big beautiful bill"—which consolidates multiple reforms into one massive package. He explains how indirect measures like increased paperwork, monthly re-enrollments, and work requirements will lead to 10+ million losing Medicaid and ACA coverage, without direct cuts. The discussion covers fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid, the role of AI in filling government gaps, and the bill's delayed rollout post-midterms. They also explore site-neutral payments' effects on hospitals and ambulatory centers, cross-subsidization for safety-net services, and why hospitals' razor-thin margins make them vulnerable. This episode is crucial for healthcare professionals preparing for higher uncompensated care, sicker patients, and systemic shifts in reimbursement and access.Three Actionable Takeaway:Monitor Policy Changes Closely – Stay informed on Medicaid work requirements and ACA enrollment shifts rolling out in 2027. Review your practice's payer mix and prepare for increased uninsured patients by advocating for state-level expansions or adjustments.Advocate for Your Practice – If you own or operate ambulatory surgery centers, assess the impact of site-neutral payments. Engage with hospital associations to push for subsidies that maintain safety-net services, ensuring cross-subsidization doesn't erode entirely.Prepare for Operational Strain – Anticipate higher uncompensated care and sicker presentations. Build contingency plans like AI-assisted administrative tools or partnerships with community resources to handle paperwork burdens and support vulnerable patients.About the Show:Succeed In Medicine  covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Guest:Dr. Adam Block is a Harvard-trained health economist with over two decades of experience at the intersection of healthcare policy, hospitals, and insurance. He played a key role in drafting sections of the Affordable Care Act for Congress and writing foundational regulations for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish health insurance exchanges. After five years in data analytics roles reporting to CFOs, he founded Charm Economics, a consulting firm focused on health economics, and serves as an associate professor of public health at New York Medical College. Dr. Block's expertise lies in navigating complex policy changes, reimbursement challenges, and systemic healthcare shifts, offering critical insights for physicians and providers.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adameblockEmail: adam@charmeconomics.comWebsite: https://www.charmeconomics.comAbout the Host:Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physiciansWant to be a guest?Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com  or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Unclear accounting and accounts payable policies and procedures can lead to costly errors, compliance risks, and team confusion. This session dives into the essential role of a well-crafted policy and procedures manual in accounting and accounts payable departments. Learn how to streamline workflows, prevent fraud, ensure audit readiness, and foster accountability—without drowning in bureaucracy. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining existing documentation, you'll walk away with actionable strategies, proven templates, and insights that align with industry best practices. Learn how to improve your accounting operations with proven best practices for accounts payable, internal controls, and automation. Whether you're a financial controller, AP manager, or accounting student, this video offers practical tips to streamline your workflow, reduce errors, and prepare for audits. Perfect for CFOs, controllers, AP managers, and operations leads looking to improve internal controls and team performance. #accountspayable #accounting #policymanual #policyandprocedures Link to Accounts Payable Best Practices Updated https://youtu.be/8RscSRl2BUI Subscribe for more tips and insights like this: https://www.youtube.com/APNow?sub_confirmation=1 Looking for more of the most current business intelligence about + Best practices around your payment and accounts payable function + Current and new fraud protection protocols + The newest technology impacting your accounting, accounts payable, and payment functions + Career advancement +And much more!! +++++++++++++++++++++++ See most recent videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@APNow/videos See all short tips at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtL6rWSXZ-He5ELp9TP3wqQdHIbfIcFAB Learn more about AP Best Practices; Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtL6rWSXZ-HcvMSJTdNs0BCQJ0Ivb4l9V Learn more about Internal Controls in AP; Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtL6rWSXZ-HdV9JIterJ-bf6TwMset_z_ Looking for Automation insights: Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtL6rWSXZ-Hf_cZwQOcDZrYV4dA0oDVby This video details **how to** write an **office procedures** manual and highlights the importance of **employee training**. Learn about **workplace policies** and the **policy review** process, aligning with **industry standard** **best practices**. #procedures #training

Gm! This week Hester Peirce joins the show to discuss the current state of crypto regulation. We deep dive into the SEC's current outlook on regulation, the crypto task force initiative, tokenization, what Hester wants to achieve at the SEC & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Hester: https://x.com/HesterPeirce Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code LIGHT100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more. Go to app.katana.network to check it out. -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- (00:00) Introduction (01:42) Working With The CFTC (08:06) Is Hester On Crypto Twitter? (10:57) Katana Ad (11:48) Eigenlayer Ad (12:49) Crypto Innovation vs Regulation (22:12) Regulatory Clarity In 2025 (35:26) Katana Ad (36:16) Eigenlayer Ad (37:18) The Crypto Task Force (43:39) Liquid Staking (46:06) Tokenized Equities (50:55) What Hester Wants To Achieve At The SEC -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Gm! This week Brandon Potts joins the show to discuss Solana's next catalyst. We deep dive into the state of Solana, DeFi 2.0, the impact of institutions on crypto markets, are ETFs & DATs underpriced by the market & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Brandon: https://x.com/b_potts23 Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code LIGHT100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more. Go to app.katana.network to check it out. -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- (00:00) Introduction (03:47) The State Of Solana (05:57) Will DATs & ETFs Be SOL's Next Catalyst? (19:04) Katana Ad (19:56) Eigenlayer Ad (20:57) Does Onchain Activity Matter For Token Price? (30:21) Stablecoins & DeFi 2.0 (37:43) Katana Ad (38:34) Eigenlayer Ad (39:36) Crypto's Value Proposition (54:25) How Does Solana Compete With Alt L1's? (59:20) The Solana End Game -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

This week Guy Young joins the show to discuss the next chapter for Ethena. We deep dive into Ethena's business model, how DATs could enable DeFi's breakout moment, how Ethena will scale in the future, advice for founders & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Guy: Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (03:29 )The Ethena Business Model (07:04) Valuations & VC Unlocks (12:44) The Ethena DAT (StablecoinX) (15:11) Are DATs Sustainable? (18:36) DeFi's Breakout Moment (24:12) Partnering With Pendle & Aave (31:49) Ads (Eigen Layer) (32:48) Advice For Founders (37:34) How Does Ethena Scale (44:18) What Is iUSDe? (47:47) Hyperliquid Is Launching A Stablecoin (USDH) (53:39) Corporate Chains -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mastering Sales & Scaling Revenue with James DonovanWhat do door-to-door sales in Australia and high-ticket deals for CPAs have in common? James Donovan.In this episode, James shares how he went from knocking on doors to building a company that delivers high-margin clients to fractional CFOs and accountants. We dive into his approach to lead generation, sales process optimization, and how he handles objections like "the leads are bad" by owning the entire sales funnel—from click to close.You'll learn:Why persistence beats talent in salesHow to qualify clients before they qualify youThe power of niching down and systematizing growthWhy James is planning to buy an accounting firm (despite hating accounting in school)Whether you're scaling a service business, running B2B sales, or just looking to sharpen your revenue strategy, this episode is full of actionable gems.

How do founders and finance leaders prepare for the sale of their company when the other side of the negotiating table does this every day? In this episode, CJ interviews David Siegel, Partner at Grellas Shah LLP, a Silicon Valley law firm that guides some of the biggest names in tech through their most significant raises and exits. David shares insights from countless deals, revealing what it really takes to prepare for a sale, negotiate with buyers, and manage conflicting advice from bankers and lawyers. He unpacks investor dynamics, deal timelines, and why the $150 million to $350 million valuation range is the “awkward middle.” The conversation also covers how companies can de-risk themselves before going to market, how to spot a bad banker, what critical pitfalls to avoid in Letters of Intent (LOIs), the emotional realities founders face when selling their “baby,” and the shifting power dynamics in today's M&A landscape.—LINKS:David Siegel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-siegel-a271265Grellas Shah: https://grellas.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:06) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(06:41) The Average Time To Close M&A Deals Today(10:55) How To Start the Process of Selling a Company(13:09) Being Realistic About Your Valuation(15:13) Sponsor – Navan | Rillet | Pulley(19:08) VCs Versus Acquirers(20:12) The $150 Million to $350 Million Valuation Awkward Middle(23:17) Investor Behavior and Founder Incentives in Deals(24:59) The Banker Versus Relationship Route in Selling(27:46) What Makes a Bad Banker(28:43) PSA: Investment Banker Engagement Letters Are Negotiable(34:43) LOIs: What Sellers Should Push To Include Before Signing(39:43) What To Prioritise as a CFO in an LOI(43:21) The Worst Case Scenario for Vague Networking Capital Targets(46:22) De-Risking Your Company in the Eyes of an Acquirer(49:17) How Acquirer Risk Aversion Derails Deals(52:07) The Emotional Impact of Selling a Company(55:32) The Rules of Negotiation(57:19) Current State of M&A in Tech(1:01:30) Wrap—SPONSORS:Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.#TechAcquisitions #AcquisitionLaw #StartupExit #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitStrategy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

In this episode, we brought together leaders from Gelato, L2Beat, Succinct, and Spire Labs to examine the state of Ethereum rollups. Our discussion covers L1 vs. L2 dynamics, Stripe and other corporations launching chains, limitations of current rollup infrastructure, bridging challenges, ZK proofs, real-time proving progress, canonical vs. external bridges, and the future trajectory of L2 technology. Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. Resources  Ethereum Settlement Score: https://ethresear.ch/t/ethereum-settlement-score-ess-revitalizing-the-rollup-centric-roadmap/22922 Are L2s Breaking Away From Ethereum? https://app.blockworksresearch.com/research/are-l2s-breaking-away-from-ethereum — Bitcoin DeFi is heating up on Aptos, the BTCFi growth chain with nearly $400M in BTC assets supported by a secure, fast, and affordable MVM environment. Aptos users can acquire, hold, and earn attractive BTCFi yields via Echo aBTC and OKX xBTC, without typical bridge risks and high fees.  Explore BTC yield opportunities on Aptos via OKX Earn and Aptos-native platforms https://web3.okx.com/earn/activity/xbtc-aptos  -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards.  A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.  Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/  – Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code 0x100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london – Blockworks is hiring a Research Data Analyst. If you live in SQL and love making sense of onchain chaos, apply today: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks?utm_source=EQPb2dAAxr – Follow Hubert: https://x.com/hubkotl Follow Leland:  https://x.com/Lsquaredleland Follow Luis: https://x.com/luis_0x Follow mteam: https://x.com/mteamisloading Follow Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx —-- [TIMESTAMPS] —-- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

During this livestream, we discuss Hyperliquid stablecoins, trading card game tokenization trends, MegaETH and Ethena's USDM announcement, and new DATco-driven market dynamics. Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more.  Go to app.katana.network to check it out.  -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards.  A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.  Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/  -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code 0x100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Blockworks is hiring a Research Data Analyst. If you live in SQL and love making sense of onchain chaos, apply today: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks?utm_source=EQPb2dAAxr -- Follow Kunal: https://x.com/Kunallegendd Follow Shaunda: https://x.com/shaundadevens Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (5:17) Hyperliquid Stablecoin Proposals (26:31) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (27:30) The TCG Meta (53:12) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (54:23) MegaETH & Ethena Unveil USDM (1:03:52) New DATcos -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode of Agents of Nonprofit, I sit down with Courtney De Ronde, co-founder of Forge, to explore the critical role of financial clarity in nonprofit success. She breaks down the three key financial functions every nonprofit needs, explains how restricted funds can create confusion, and offers practical advice for organizations looking to strengthen their financial foundations.Topics We Cover:Courtney's journey into nonprofit auditing and why she built a specialized practiceThe unique challenges of nonprofit finances, including volunteer boards and diverse business modelsHow Forge supports nonprofits through audits, virtual CFO/controller services, and management consultingThe three critical financial functions: bookkeeping, controllers, and CFOs—plus why fractional access worksWhy audits are more than compliance—they're tools for accountability and credibilityThe importance of reconciled records, proper documentation, and clear internal controlsUnderstanding restricted gifts and their impact on organizational flexibilityPractical steps smaller nonprofits can take to build strong financial foundationsTo Learn More and Connect with Courtney:ForgeAhead.com Courtney De Ronde on LinkedInSupport the show

Gm! This week we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into the mechanics behind DATs, the WLFI token launch, Stripe's announcement of Tempo, onchain equities & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes. Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3. Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"": - Transactions posted to the blockchain - Compatibility with TradFi rails - Integrated DeFi features Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (04:24) Are DAT Mechanics Sustainable? (16:23) Do DATs Actually Unlock Token Access? (21:48) Ads (Bitwise) (22:34) Breaking Down The $WLFI Token Launch (33:46) Stripe Launches Tempo (49:12) Ads (Bitwise, Mantle, Eigenlayer) (51:27) Onchain Equities & Tokenization -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Andrew Wang discusses the potential for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the Trump administration's authority to impose tariffs. With a federal appeals court striking down the majority of President Trump's tariffs, Wang believes the decision could set a precedent on economic power between the President and Congress. He notes that 40% of CFOs cite tariff concerns as their top business worry, with some companies like Lululemon (LULU) planning to pass on 100% of tariff-related costs to customers. Wong thinks this may not be realistic and could lead to negative impacts on company margins and earnings.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

In this powerful rerun episode, Chris Craddock sits down with Lab Coat Agents founder Tristan Ahumada, one of the most influential voices in real estate and tech. Tristan pulls back the curtain on how AI is shaking up the industry—from tools designed to make agents obsolete, to tech that helps agents scale smarter and serve better.You'll learn:Why AI could compress your commissions if you're not proactiveHow top teams are leveraging AI to create virtual brokers, CFOs, and marketing teamsWhy most real estate outreach feels fake—and how to fix itThe LCM method that made Facebook hire Tristan to train their teamsHow to make your sphere marketing actually feel authenticWhat Zillow is planning—and why you need to pay attentionWhy your thoughts might be sabotaging your successWhether you're a solo agent or scaling a team, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you're showing up online, in your business, and in your own head.Connect with Tristan Ahumada:Instagram: @tristan.ahumadaLabCoat Agents: www.labcoatagents.comConnect with Chris Craddock:Instagram: @craddrockFacebook: Chris Craddock BusinessRESOURCES: 

How do finance leaders enable growth while fostering a culture of partnership, positivity, and saying yes? In this episode, CJ interviews Ed Park, Head of FP&A at Facebook during its explosive hypergrowth years, Head of Finance and Internal Operations at Asana, the current CFO of Daffy, and a “glass-half-full” finance leader. Ed shares stories about working at Facebook in the early days, how he brought finance into the company's engineering and product-first culture, and how he built trust while navigating rapid user and infrastructure expansion. He talks about his role at Asana, why the company plans in episodes, not quarters, how they discovered their unique “three user” metric, and how they transitioned from bottoms-up to sales-led growth. Ed also gives an introduction to donor-advised funds and how Daffy, his current company, is disrupting this field. The conversation covers how a company's business model shapes its destiny, finding the balance between what's urgent and what's important, and Ed's glass-half-full approach to being a finance leader who enables teams by saying yes.—LINKS:Edward Park on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardyparkDaffy: https://www.daffy.orgCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:Big Systems Thinking for Building a Finance Org: Advice From a Zoom Hypergrowth Survivor — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:16) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(06:43) Ed's First Job at a Startup: Head of FP&a at Facebook(11:35) Bringing Finance Into an Engineering and Product-Led Culture(16:42) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(20:34) Balancing What Was Urgent Versus Important(25:02) Monetizing Facebook(26:48) Becoming a Glass-Half-Full Finance Leader(33:27) Managing Four Chefs at Asana(35:38) How Asana Plans in Episodes, Not Quarters(42:48) Monetization Model Intuition and the “Three User” Metric(48:13) Transitioning From Bottoms-Up to Proactive Sales at Asana(53:24) Daffy's Monetization Model and Donor-Advised Fund Innovation(57:34) How a Business Model Shapes Destiny(1:00:02) Ed's “How Might We” Approach to Being a CFO(1:01:56) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Mistake(1:04:38) Advice to Younger Self(1:05:44) Finance Software Stack(1:07:57) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metrics#FacebookBusinessModel #FPandA #StartupFinance #MonetizationStrategy #DonorAdvisedFunds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

In today’s fast-evolving cybersecurity landscape, organizations face bigger and bolder threats that have wide-reaching implications − from financial and customer data breaches, to third-party infiltration and disruption far down the supply chain. Hacking has become an organized business, and AI and quantum technologies are as much a part of the threat as they are the solution. Charlie Lewis leads our North American and European cyber practices and is a partner in our Stamford office. He supports clients on strategic cyber transformations. In this episode, Charlie speaks with Sean Brown about the critical role of CFOs in their organization’s cyber operations, the core foundations of cybersecurity, and the importance of organizations collaborating on improving security in a world of crime that has no borders. Related insights Resilience Pulse Check: Harnessing Collaboration to Navigate a Volatile WorldRepelling the cyberattackers (book excerpt) McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedInSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

If you're a cleaning or facility maintenance CEO chasing multi-million-dollar contracts, you already know the pain: RFPs are time-consuming, confusing, and often stacked against you.In this episode of The Profitable Cleaner, sales leader Nathan (Nate) Pavelka (CBRE Network Advisory Services) breaks down a smarter way to approach RFPs and complex sales cycles. With 20+ years in enterprise sales, Nate has helped Fortune 1000 companies uncover 7–8 figure savings and close deals others thought impossible.Now he's sharing the RFP playbook tailored for the cleaning industry — the exact strategies to qualify faster, message to the right stakeholders, and stop wasting time on bids you'll never win.In this episode, you'll learn:✅ Why 20–35% of RFPs never even get published (and how to spot red flags fast)✅ The 3Ps Framework: People + Process = Performance for sales success✅ How to talk differently to CFOs, Ops, and Procurement during the RFP process✅ Why most vendors lose before the bid even starts✅ How to use AI tools to simplify RFPs and proposalsIf you're tired of spinning your wheels on RFPs — and ready to land $1M+ cleaning contracts — this episode is your competitive edge.

CMO Confidential — “What Your CFO Wants to Tell You (But Won't)” with CNA CFO Scott LindquistWhat does a great CFO really think about marketing? Mike Linton sits down with Scott Lindquist—CFO of CNA Financial and former long-time CFO of Farmers—to decode the finance side of brand building, performance spend, and the politics of the boardroom. They cover how CMOs should onboard a new CFO, why “marketing math” wins over skeptics, mistakes to avoid in board presentations, and how insurers used bold brand bets to become category killers.What you'll learn • The four archetypes of CFOs—and how to work with each • Why CFOs who are “joined at the hip” with the CEO think differently about growth • How to explain cost of capital and present value like a marketer (and win budget) • The insurance playbook: brand investment, DTC distribution, and lifetime value • Why every large marketing org needs a Marketing CFO (and how to set it up) • Boardroom pitfalls: jargon, 100-slide decks for 20 minutes, and “draining the slide” • Practical tips for building trust: bring the data, surface bad news early, and speak in outcomesGuestScott Lindquist — Chief Financial Officer, CNA Financial. Former CFO, Farmers Insurance. Started at PwC and has led finance through growth, turnarounds, and public-company scrutiny.HostMike Linton — Former CMO of Best Buy, eBay, and Farmers; former CRO of Ancestry. Host of CMO Confidential, the #1 CMO show on YouTube.Who should watchCMOs, CEOs, CFOs, board members, founders, and marketing leaders who need tighter finance alignment and clearer ROI storytelling.Brought to you by TypefaceLegacy marketing tools weren't built for AI. Typeface is the first multimodal, agentic AI marketing platform that turns one idea into thousands of on-brand assets—across ads, email, and video—while integrating with your MarTech stack and meeting enterprise-grade security needs. See how brands like ASICS and Microsoft accelerate content at scale: typeface.ai/cmo.—If you're enjoying the show, please like, comment, and subscribe. New episodes every Tuesday; companion newsletter with the top insights every Friday.#CMOConfidential #CFO #MarketingROI #BrandBuilding #B2BMarketingCMO Confidential, Mike Linton, Scott Lindquist, CNA Financial, Farmers Insurance, CFO, CMO, marketing CFO, finance and marketing alignment, cost of capital, present value, marketing math, LTV, lifetime value, CAC, board presentations, brand valuation, insurance marketing, DTC insurance, Geico, Progressive, performance marketing, media spend, marketing ROI, budgeting, enterprise marketing, MarTech, agentic AI, Typeface AI, ASICS, Microsoft, PwC, executive leadership, C-suite, category strategy, growth strategy, B2B marketing, B2C marketing, onboarding a CFO, sponsorships, vendor management, marketing governance, data-driven marketing, brand building, boardroom communication, enterprise security, AI marketing platformSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gm! This week Sang Kim joins the show to discuss Fragmetric & the future of Solana DeFi. We deep dive into generating yield, the role of DATs in the SOL ecosystem, the crypto industry in Korea & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Sang: https://x.com/sangdotsol Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code LIGHT100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more. Go to app.katana.network to check it out. -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- (00:00) Introduction (02:19) What Is Fragmetric? (09:13) How Does Fragmetric Generate Yield? (14:38) Katana Ad (15:30) Eigenlayer Ad (16:31) Are DATs Bullish For Solana DeFi? (22:20) Which DATs Will Benefit From DeFi Strategies (29:34) Katana Ad (30:26) Eigenlayer Ad (31:27) Crypto In Korea (42:18) Lessons Post TGE (50:00) What's Next For Fragmetric? -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Raising capital looks different depending on if you're sitting at the head of the company, behind a bank's desk, or across the table structuring deals. Joe Briner has sat in all three seats. As a former bank CEO, investment banker, and now CFO, he offers a rare perspective on what capital providers expect, how they evaluate opportunities, and how business leaders can be better prepared.In this episode, Joe breaks down what matters most to each stakeholder: why banks prioritize repayment over risk, why investment bankers focus on valuation and market fit, and why CFOs must balance vision with structure. We talk about what makes a company bankable, what investors listen for but rarely say out loud, and how leaders can package their story to match the needs of the people holding the capital.You'll also hear hard-won lessons about character, transparency, and timing, and how the wrong approach (or wrong CFO) can derail momentum just as easily as the right one can accelerate it.If you're preparing to raise capital or want to better understand the situation you're in or considering, this behind-the-scenes view of how capital decisions really get made, told by someone who's made them all, is like a cheat-sheet for what to expect and how to show up ready.Create The Next is delivered to you from ProCFO Partners. Every week, we explore strategies and ideas for financial management and growth to help today's businesses put their financial picture in context. ProCFO Partners are expert financial officers networked across industries, verticals, specializations and situations. Fulfilling the role of a part-time CFO with all-time commitment, ProCFO Partners utilizes the innovative and exclusive FGC Financial Flywheel as a framework that creates momentum to drive your financial functions for sustainable success. Visit procfopartners.com to explore how we can implement a systematic and scalable financial system to help you achieve your goal.

Gm! In this episode, Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Kraken, joins Yano to dive into how his background in tech, growth and IPOs makes him the perfect candidate to join Kraken and take the company to the next level. Arjun dives into how his compensation plan and overall approach to Kraken paves the way for a decade long growth trajectory that will take Kraken global and one of the most recognized brands in crypto for retail, traders and beyond. -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Arjun: https://x.com/arjunsethi Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- (00:00) Intro (01:10) Arjun's Background (14:08) Culture + Product Velocity (16:45) Arjun's Incentives (18:03) Ads (Katana) (18:50) 1st month at kraken (21:56) Prioritizing What To Build (26:00) Future Onchain Trading (31:20) Kraken Stablecoin (33:38) Crypto Market Structure (35:16) Competitor Analysis (40:17) Hyperliquid (42:25) X Stocks (44:58) Ninja Trader Acquisition (49:33) IPO? (52:39) Long term Leadership (53:53) Ads (Eigenlayer, Geodnet) (55:32) Prediction Markets + Perps (59:16) Tokenization / Onchain IPOs (01:04:18) What's Obvious to Arjun (01:09:46) 4 Year Cycle -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Find me on Substack: https://bogumilbaranowski.substack.com/Kevin Koharki is an MBA, PhD, founder of CAE Consulting, and associate professor who has spent 20 years analyzing hundreds of firms and uniquely advocates that every employee—not just executives—should understand how their daily decisions impact capital allocation and long-term value creation.3:00 - Childhood influence: Depression-era grandmother shaped Kevin's views on hard work, discipline, and saving money through close relationship and shared activities6:00 - Career origin story: 1999 discovery of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" led to Peter Lynch's "One Up on Wall Street" - describes it as "getting hit by lightning," sparking lifelong investing passion9:00 - Teaching philosophy: Drops real 10Ks on students' desks, believes in learning by doing rather than textbooks - "if you want to learn how to hit a curveball, you have to step in the batter's box"12:00 - Personal finance reality check: Most people don't budget despite it being "second, third grade math" - grandmother's "got cable?" test for true money problems15:00 - Capital allocation breakthrough: 2022 Vegas flight rereading Buffett letters when everything "clicked" - realized employees need training on how their roles impact CEO decisions18:00 - Defense contractor story: 71 years of collective family experience, never understood job's true financial impact until Kevin's training21:00 - Common misconception: Analysts focus only on dividends, debt paydown, buybacks - "it doesn't start there, it starts with revenue"25:00 - Concentration philosophy: Charlie Munger's "three investments in your lifetime" - finding businesses that can reinvest at high rates indefinitely30:00 - Financial statement analysis: Shocking number of investors not making proper adjustments for leases, pensions, stock-based compensation35:00 - Stock-based compensation deep dive: Spent three years figuring out what Buffett/Munger meant by "true cost" - most CFOs don't understand until receiving it themselves40:00 - Double-hit problem: Stock-based comp hits earnings twice (expense + dilution) while actual cash impact appears in financing, not operations45:00 - Tech sector impact: Free cash flow can be 30-40% lower than reported due to improper stock-based comp accounting50:00 - Cultural change requirement: Capital allocation mindset shifts take years, require constant reinforcement like diet changes55:00 - Employee education gap: HR can't explain stock plans due to licensing restrictions, employees receive lawyer-written documents they can't understand60:00 - Success definition: Making people better investors or employees who understand their financial impact - "help them understand the why"Podcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm's employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Premji Invest is an investment firm that backs some of the biggest names in the CFO and enterprise tech stack, including Anaplan, Zuora, Coupa, and Looker. In this episode, CJ is joined by Sandesh Patnam, the firm's Managing Partner, to discuss their approach to investing and the future of CFO tech. Sandesh talks about the evergreen nature of Premji's investment model and explains how this permanent pool of capital enables the company to focus on deep partnerships and durable growth, rather than chasing fund cycles or portfolio diversification. He breaks down why he views total addressable market (TAM) as a floor rather than a ceiling, how investing across both public and private markets creates a strategic advantage, and how startups should approach capital construction and optionality in today's market. The conversation also touches on the evolution of the CFO toolkit, how AI is shifting the finance role, what persistent finance problems are still waiting for innovation, how org design is changing inside finance teams, and why he believes AI is a bigger shift than both the dot-com and mobile eras.—LINKS:Sandesh Patnam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeshpatnamPremji Invest: https://in.premjiinvest.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:BlackRock Managing Director on the Secrets of Durable Companies - —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:08) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(06:59) Evergreen Capital and Premji's Approach to Investing(09:25) Portfolio Construction(12:58) TAM Versus SAM Versus Product(15:28) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(19:51) Seats Versus Outcome-Based Pricing(23:30) Defining Durability(26:31) Public Versus Private Investing(28:44) Why One Team Manages Both Public and Private Investing(30:47) Capital Construction for CFOs With Evergreen Investors(32:13) How and When Evergreen Funds Seek Liquidity(35:32) Building Optionality in Capital Strategy Amid Market Changes(38:01) Secondary Markets in the Private World(41:39) The Evolution of the CFO Tech Stack(43:41) AI and Systems of Action(45:43) How CFOs Are Starting To Interact With AI Tech(49:09) A Finance Problem That's Open for Innovation(50:25) The Evolution of the CFO's Role Beyond Finance(51:33) The AI Era vs. Prior Tech Eras—SPONSORS:RightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/run#EvergreenCapital #PremjiInvest #CFOTechStack #InvestmentStrategy #PortfolioDurability This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

In this episode, Ali and Deven from Valantis joined us to discuss building on Hyperliquid, LST-focused AMMs, acquiring stHYPE, DEX integrations and BD realities on Hyperliquid, infra constraints (node/Core Writer), and near-term launches.Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Resources Introducing the stHYPE AMM: https://x.com/ValantisLabs/status/1892262812816146832 Acquiring stHYPE: https://x.com/ValantisLabs/status/1957805907246723517 -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more.  Go to app.katana.network to check it out.  -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards.  A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking.  Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/  -- Crypto's premiere institutional conference returns to London in October 2025. Use code 0x100 for £100 off at checkout: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-london -- Blockworks is hiring a Research Data Analyst. If you live in SQL and love making sense of onchain chaos, apply today: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Blockworks?utm_source=EQPb2dAAxr -- Follow Valantis: https://x.com/ValantisLabs Follow Ali: https://x.com/0xaioli Follow Devenmat: https://x.com/DevenMat Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+UFFz4z3qyrhhMDYx -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (5:59) The stHYPE AMM (13:12) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (14:05) What AMMs Are Next? (17:05) Why Did Valantis Choose Hyperliquid? (23:15) Acquiring the stHYPE Protocol (28:45) Ads (Katana & EigenCloud) (29:58) stHYPE vs kHYPE (33:38) DEX Integrations (43:05) Building on Hyperliquid (49:08) Closing Comments -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Here's the thing. Most enterprise AI talk today starts with chatbots and ends with glossy demos. Meanwhile, the data that actually runs a business lives in rows, columns, and time stamps. That gap is where my conversation with Vanja Josifovski, CEO of Kuma.ai, really comes alive. Vanja has spent two and a half decades helping companies turn data into decisions, from research roles at Yahoo and Google to steering product and engineering at Pinterest through its IPO and later leading Airbnb Homes. He's now building Kuma.ai to answer an old question with a new approach: how do you get accurate, production-grade predictions from relational data without spending months crafting a bespoke model for each use case? Vanja explains why structured business data has been underserved for years. Images and text behave nicely compared to the messy reality of multiple tables, mixed data types, and event histories. Traditional teams anticipate a prediction need, then kick off a long feature engineering and modeling process. Kuma's Relational Foundation Model, or RFM, flips that script. Pre-trained on a large mix of public and synthetic data warehouses, it delivers task-agnostic, zero-shot predictions for problems like churn and fraud. That means you can ask the model questions directly of your data and get useful answers fast, then fine-tune for another 15 to 20 percent uplift when you're ready to squeeze more from your full dataset. What stood out for me is how Kuma removes the grind of manual feature creation. Vanja draws a clear parallel to computer vision's shift years ago, when teams stopped handcrafting edge detectors and started learning from raw pixels. By learning directly from raw tables, Kuma taps the entirety of the data rather than a bundle of human-crafted summaries. The payoff shows up in the numbers customers care about, with double-digit improvements against mature, well-defended baselines and the kind of time savings that change roadmaps. One customer built sixty models in two weeks, a job that would typically span a year or more. We also explore how this fits with the LLM moment. Vanja doesn't position RFM as a replacement for language models. He frames it as a complement that fills an accuracy gap on tabular data where LLMs often drift. Think of RFM as part of an agentic toolbox: when an agent needs a reliable prediction from enterprise data, it can call Kuma instead of generating code, training a fresh model, or bluffing an answer. That design extends to the realities of production as well. Kuma's fine-tuning and serving stack is built for high-QPS environments, the kind you see in recommendations and ad tech, where cost and latency matter. The training story is another thread you'll hear in this episode. The team began with public datasets, then leaned into synthetic data to cover scenarios that are hard to source in the wild. Synthetic generation gives them better control over distribution shifts and edge cases, which speeds iteration and makes the foundation model more broadly capable upon arrival. If you care about measurable outcomes, this episode shows why CFOs pay attention when RFM lands. Vanja shares examples where a 20 to 30 percent lift translates into hundreds of thousands of additional monthly active users and direct revenue impact. That kind of improvement isn't theory. It's the difference between a model that nudges a metric and a model that moves it. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of what Kuma.ai is building, why relational data warrants its own foundation model, and how enterprises can move from wishful thinking to practical wins. Curious to try it yourself? Vanja also points to a sandbox where teams can load data and ask predictive questions within a notebook, then compare results against in-house models. If your AI plans keep stalling on tabular reality, this conversation offers a way forward that's fast, accurate, and designed for the systems you already run.

In this timely episode of Restauranttopia, we sit down with Jamie, the CFO of a prominent restaurant group, to unpack the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) and explore how it directly impacts restaurant owners, CFOs, and operations leaders. As one of the most talked-about pieces of legislation in 2025, the BBB is bringing major changes to restaurant financial planning, labor compliance, and vendor relationships. Jamie provides a clear and insightful breakdown of the new bill's implications—from tax advantages and cost controls to restaurant labor law updates and long-term forecasting. Whether you're a multi-unit restaurant operator, single-store entrepreneur, or foodservice executive, this episode is packed with valuable financial insights that help you stay compliant, competitive, and confident about the road ahead.

Happy Friday! For this week's Roundup, Rob and Yano dive into the recent stablecoin raises (Rain and M0) and explore the exponentially growing industry of prediction markets and discuss what could be beyond PolyMarket and Kalshi. They also touch upon the macro environment, where we are in the cycle and leave some killer content recs.  -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from David Canellis.  Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries.  Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] --  Get up to speed on the biggest stories in crypto each week. In five minutes.  Get the Bitwise Weekly CIO Memo delivered directly to your inbox at bitwiseinvestments.com/ciomemo/empire  -- "Mantle is pioneering ""Blockchain for Banking"" as a revolutionary new category that sits at the intersection of TradFi and web3.   Key elements for Mantle as the ""Blockchain for Banking"":      - Transactions posted to the blockchain     - Compatibility with TradFi rails     - Integrated DeFi features UR, built by Mantle, is the first real-world example: an on-chain money app offering Swiss IBANs and unified access to fiat (EUR, CHF, USD, RMB) and crypto — bringing crypto into everyday finance. Mantle Network, the access layer — transforms Mantle Network into a purpose-built vertical platform — the blockchain for banking — that enables financial services on-chain. Mantle leads the establishment of Blockchain for Banking as the next frontier. Follow Mantle on X (@Mantle_Official) for the latest updates on Mantle as the 'Blockchain for Banking'." -- Citrea is the first zero-knowledge rollup to enhance the capabilities of Bitcoin blockspace and enable Bitcoin applications (₿apps). Citrea is optimistically verified by Bitcoin, offering the most Bitcoin-secured and native way to extend BTC's utility to DeFi.  Learn more about Citrea: https://citrea.xyz/?utm_source=bellcurve&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=website_promo   Follow Citrea on X/Twitter for the latest on its journey to mainnet: https://x.com/citrea_xyz -- Is your treasury losing value to inflation? Learn how to make digital assets like ETH and SOL productive with uncorrelated, protocol-driven staking rewards. A new report from Liquid Collective and EigenCloud outlines a practical guide for CFOs to integrate institutional-grade staking and restaking. Read The Productive Treasury Report: https://liquidcollective.io/corporate-treasury-staking/ -- Chapters: (03:06) Rain (19:36) M0's Rise (25:58) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (27:26) Prediction Markets (47:51) Ads (Geodnet, Bitwise) (49:12) Ads (Mantle, EigenLayer, Citrea) (51:38) DATs priced in? (56:47) Cycle Analysis (01:02:23) Content of the week — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Keywords:  entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, technology, startups, financial management, small business, accounting, operational efficiency, nonprofit fundraising, restaurant marketing, bookkeeping, accounting, collections, remote work, sales strategies, franchising, financial services, technology integration, small business, cash flow Takeaways Matt Tait transitioned from law to entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of operational efficiency in accounting. Technology can streamline financial processes for small businesses. Understanding the cost of time is crucial for entrepreneurs. Many business owners overlook the importance of bookkeeping. Common mistakes include doing bookkeeping themselves and not seeking help. Businesses need to focus on their core competencies. The journey from employee to owner can be complex but rewarding. Innovative tech solutions can enhance fundraising for nonprofits. Effective financial management is key to business success. It's not just bookkeeping; it's all processes involved. Many companies struggle with accounts receivable and collections. Good businesses have good processes and habits. Collections should be a dedicated time each week. Outsourcing collections can harm client relationships. Fixed monthly fees provide predictability for clients. Technology and globalization are key to scaling operations. Partnerships with fractional CFOs drive growth. Franchising can help accountants start their own firms. Understanding your numbers is crucial for business success. Summary:  In this episode, Mitch Beinhaker interviews Matt Tait, CEO of Decimal, who shares his journey from being a lawyer to becoming an entrepreneur. Matt discusses the importance of operational efficiency in accounting and how technology can streamline financial processes for small businesses. He emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to understand the cost of their time and the common mistakes they make in financial management. The conversation also touches on innovative solutions in nonprofit fundraising and the transition from employee to owner. In this conversation, Matt Tait discusses the intricacies of bookkeeping and accounting processes, emphasizing the importance of streamlining operations for efficiency. He highlights the challenges businesses face with collections and the necessity of establishing good habits for financial management. Tait shares insights on building a remote accounting firm, the evolution of sales strategies in a digital landscape, and the upcoming franchising model for Decimal. He also addresses the complexities of managing a global workforce and the comprehensive financial services offered to small businesses. Titles From Lawyer to Entrepreneur: Matt Tait's Journey Streamlining Bookkeeping for Small Businesses Innovative Solutions in Nonprofit Fundraising The Cost of Time: Why Entrepreneurs Should Delegate Sound Bites "I'm a recovering attorney." "Every business has to pay their bills and get paid." "You shouldn't do it. It's not a good use of time." "Common mistakes include doing bookkeeping themselves." "Make it nice and easy." "Nobody wants to be in business collecting money." "We have a big team in the Philippines." "We're going to start franchising Decimal." "You have to think through the whole life cycle." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:11 Matt Tait's Entrepreneurial Journey 04:09 Transitioning from Law to Tech Startups 06:14 Innovations in Nonprofit Fundraising Technology 09:16 Creating a Restaurant Marketing Platform 12:22 Joining Decimal and the Journey to Ownership 14:34 The Importance of Bookkeeping for Businesses 18:11 Understanding the Cost of Time in Business 21:14 Common Mistakes in Financial Management 22:12 Streamlining Bookkeeping Processes 25:30 The Importance of Collections 26:51 Building a Remote Accounting Firm 30:33 Sales Strategies in a Digital Age 34:42 Franchising the Decimal Model 36:05 Challenges of a Remote Workforce 41:29 Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses

BROOKE LIVELY is the founder and CEO of Cathedral Capital. She earned her MBA in investments and corporate finance. Brooke built a seven-figure company in under two years before starting her own company, Cathedral Capital. As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), she and her team have worked with Hall of Famers, Inc. 5000 businesses, CEOs, and small business owners. With expertise in growth management, creative problem-solving, and profitability strategy, Brooke was named to the “Top 25 Women to Watch” and “Fort Worth's 2016 CFOs of the Year” lists. She is a highly regarded speaker and the author of several books. Brooke has been featured in international media, including Forbes, Fort Worth Business Press, Diversity Journal, Attorney at Work, and on podcasts, such as Playmakers and Find Your Tribe.Learn more: http://cathcap.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-brooke-lively-founder-and-ceo-of-cathcap

Today, we will address a critical pain point for businesses hitting the $5 million revenue mark: knowing when to bring your finance function in-house. Shannon discusses the drawbacks of relying solely on outsourced bookkeepers and CPAs and delves into the benefits of hiring a fractional CFO. From understanding how to lead a finance team effectively to knowing the technical skills required, this episode offers invaluable insights for business owners who want to retain more profits while minimizing risks. Shannon also explains the advantages of fractional CFOs in bridging the gap between outgrowing a bookkeeper and not yet being ready for a full-time CFO hire. The episode wraps up with practical tips on how to make strategic finance hires and ensure you are getting the best talent for your needs.   What You'll Hear [0:45] The Challenges of Scaling Finance Functions [3:10] The Importance of Leadership in Finance [4:45] The Role of Fractional CFOs [8:05 Hiring and Evaluating Finance Talent [13:40] Maximizing Customer Value   Learn more about our CFO firm and services: https://www.keepwhatyouearn.com/   Connect with Shannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonweinstein Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMlIuZsrllp1Uc_MlhriLvQ Follow along on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shannonkweinstein/   The information contained in this podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is not individual tax advice. We love enthusiastic action, but please consult a qualified professional before implementing anything you learn.