January 26, 2026
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Getting funding is harder than ever.
Only a small percentage of companies make it through each funding stage, even when measured by eventual acquisition exit rates:
(Source: investorconnect.org)
Investors are raising the bar. Due diligence is deeper. Pitch decks are scrutinised harder. Forecasts are challenged line by line.
And that’s where many great businesses fall short, not because the idea is weak, but because the financial story is.
Investor-turned-advisor who has sat in hundreds of pitch meetings
Helps founders understand valuation, investor alignment, and trust-building
Speciality: scenario planning, growth modelling, founder/investor fit
Ex-Deloitte, 16+ years in corporate finance
Helps UK startups secure investment, debt, and scale fast
Known for helping founders build compelling, consistent investment narratives
Speciality: investment readiness, financial clarity, pitch improvement
Virtual CFO for Australian startups and growing multi-entity companies
Helps businesses move from “friends & family funding” to investor-ready financials
Speciality: Three-way forecasting, consolidations, and investor-ready reporting
1. Inconsistent storytelling
Investors spot inconsistencies instantly.
If the deck says one thing but the financial model says another, confidence collapses.
“Any inconsistency immediately starts an investor’s mind wondering — is it this or is it that?” — Kat
2. Weak or messy financials
Founders underestimate how quickly investors spot poor hygiene.
“If your financials are messy, investors pick them apart in seconds.” — Tyler Caskey
3. Overpromising and underdelivering
Inflated numbers damage trust long-term.
“The worst thing you can do is overpromise and then underdeliver — it stresses the investor relationship.” — Ben
4. The founder talks too much, too broadly
Investors want clarity, not passion-driven rambling.
“Don’t say more than you need to. Read the room and answer what they actually care about.” — Tyler
5. No visibility on cash
VCs care deeply about runway and cash cycles.
“You need to talk to your cash flow with confidence… not just the P&L.” — Tyler
Kat’s £3M raise example highlights that traction + evidence = conviction.
“They demonstrated the problem, demonstrated the solution, and everything fit together.”
— Kat
“We cleaned their messy Xero, built a simple three-way forecast in Fathom — and they secured over $1M.”
— Tyler Caskey
“Visuals help investors understand. Trend charts, relationships, scenarios… it all builds confidence.”
— Tyler
“Investors are betting on the entrepreneur. Transparency and curiosity build trust.”
— Ben
A Four-Step Expert-Led Process to Get Investment Read
Investors must understand:
Borrowing Kat’s analogy:
“Think of it like a horse race. You must describe the track — the market — clearly and convincingly.”
Deliverables:
This is where your product and team shine.
You must prove:
Deliverables:
All three statements must connect:
This is where nearly all founders fail.
All three experts stress this step.
“Three-way forecasting is the first thing investors ask for, and Excel is where most founders make mistakes.”
— Tyler
“It has to be integrated. Investors look at the drivers and expect evidence-based assumptions.”
— Kat
“Provide a baseline forecast, then better and worse scenarios. This builds trust.”
— Ben
Deliverables:
You now combine narrative + numbers.
Rules from the experts:
Here’s how Fathom supports each stage of your journey:
“Fathom helps me not make mistakes and helps founders articulate the real cash story.”
— Kat
Put what you’ve learned into practice with Fathom, free for 14 days.
Ellie is a campaign marketing manager at Fathom, with a degree in branding and marketing. With a background in campaign strategy and creation, Ellie is passionate about showcasing how Fathom can make a real difference to finance professionals and businesses.
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