The SaaS CFO

Join host Ben as he sits down with Alex Novozhenov, CEO and co-founder of Nodu, on this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast. Alex Novozhenov shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, from building and selling companies in the gaming and fintech space, to launching Nodu—a startup transforming cross-border payments for SaaS and fintech companies. 

Discover how Nodu leverages stablecoin technology to enable faster, seamless money transfers across borders, eliminating traditional banking barriers. Alex Novozhenov breaks down what stablecoins are, Nodu’s API-driven approach, and why global commerce needs new solutions for moving money. 

Whether you’re a SaaS CFO, founder, or fintech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on startup fundraising, adoption of cutting-edge financial tools, and the shift from bootstrapping to venture-backed growth. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the future of payments and entrepreneurship! 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "API-Driven Fintech & Stablecoins" 

03:51 "Stablecoin Payments for Businesses" 

09:28 "Funding Goals for Founders" 

10:31 "Bootstrapping vs. Funded Startups" 

15:10 "Hybrid Teams, Global Offices" 

16:58 2026 Goals and Revenue Check 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/nodu-raises-1-45-million-pre-seed-funding 

Alex Novozhenov’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/novozhenov/ 

Nodu’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nodufi/ 

Nodu’s Website: https://nodu.fi/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Matthieu Hafemeister, co-founder and CEO of Concourse. Matthieu shares his journey from growing up in Paris to launching a fast-scaling AI startup in New York, drawing on his experiences in venture capital at Andreessen Horowitz and operational roles at Jeeves. Together, they dive deep into how Concourse leverages agentic AI to revolutionize finance teams—from automating workflows across complex data sources to increasing team capacity and strategic output. 

Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at Concourse’s rapid growth, its recent $12 million Series A raise, and the evolving landscape of AI for enterprise finance. Matthieu also offers insights on the challenges of founder-led sales, best practices for scaling go-to-market, and why staying lean is a key part of their strategy. Whether you’re a SaaS founder, finance leader, or simply curious about the future of agentic AI, this conversation is packed with practical lessons and fresh perspectives. Don’t miss it! 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "Startup Growth and Complexity Insights" 

06:03 Data Integration for Workflow Efficiency 

07:36 AI Adoption Accelerates Across Industries 

10:59 "AI Automating Workflows, Not Tools" 

13:40 "AI Startup's Breakout Journey" 

19:47 Evolving Pricing with Token Model 

23:26 "AI Impact on Margins" 

25:53 Streamlining Finance Team Workflows 

27:31 "Custom AI for Enterprise Success" 

30:41 "Proof of Concepts Drive Success" 

34:38 "Concourse.ai: AI Insights Hub" 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/concourse-raises-12-million-in-series-a 

Matthieu Hafemeister’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthafemeister/ 

Concourse’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/concourseai/ 

Concourse’s Website: https://www.concourse.co/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, host Ben Murray sits down with Rishi Grover, co-founder and Chief Solutions Architect at Vena Solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the FP&A technology space, Rishi Grover shares his journey—starting from his early days as an electrical engineer to founding one of the industry's leading financial planning platforms. 

Together, they dive into the evolution of the FP&A landscape, the growing role of AI in financial planning, and how Vena's unique approach integrates Excel with enterprise applications. Rishi Grover also opens up about Vena’s fundraising story, insights on scaling a SaaS company to thousands of customers, and their recent strategic acquisition to accelerate growth. 

Whether you’re curious about SaaS fundraising, go-to-market strategies, or how AI is reshaping finance, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways for founders, CFOs, and finance leaders. Let’s jump in! 

Show Notes:  

00:00 "Comprehensive Enterprise Planning Integration" 

04:55 "Navigating Uncertainty with Strategic Planning" 

06:43 AI Trust and Practical Applications 

12:48 Startup Growth and M&A Strategy 

14:20 "Microsoft-Centric Enterprise Expansion" 

16:52 "Unified Approach Across Businesses" 

23:01 Driving Growth and Software Adoption 

25:59 "Aligning Teams for AI Strategy" 

27:57 "Accelerating Clean Data Needs" 

Links: 

Rishi Grover’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-grover-64480314/ 

Vena Solutions’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vena-solutions 

Vena Solutions’ Website: https://www.venasolutions.com/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Ben Murray welcomes Santiago Nestares, co-founder of Dual Entry, to discuss the rapid rise of their AI-powered ERP built for the modern mid-market company. Santiago Nestares shares the inspiration behind Dual Entry, which emerged from firsthand frustrations with legacy accounting systems during his journey scaling a previous startup to $100 million in revenue. The conversation digs into what sets Dual Entry apart—an ERP designed from the ground up with AI, offering next-day migration, seamless integrations, and advanced agentic features for faster, more insightful closes. 

Together, Ben Murray and Santiago Nestares explore the company’s approach to building a product that adapts as businesses grow, the challenges (and solutions) around complex ERP migrations, and why user happiness and rapid go-lives are among Dual Entry’s top success metrics. They also dive into Dual Entry's impressive fundraising journey, ambitious go-to-market strategies, and why they believe ERP trauma shouldn’t hold finance teams back from modern solutions. 

If you’re curious about the next wave of finance tech for CFOs—or want to hear how Dual Entry is changing the game for SaaS and beyond—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "Scaling Challenges with ERP Systems" 

05:05 "Mid-Market Business Growth Strategy" 

09:03 AI Tools for Business Automation 

12:04 "Building Fast, Customer-Focused Teams" 

14:56 "Strong Software & Migration Insights" 

17:24 "Customer-Focused Go-to-Market Strategy" 

22:11 Overcoming ERP Implementation Barriers 

25:17 "Launching Agents, SaaS Expansion" 

26:17 Dual Entry Resources & Community 

Link: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/dualentry-raises-90-million-in-series-a 

Santiago Nestares’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-nestares/ 

DualEntry’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dualentry/ 

DualEntry’s Website: https://www.dualentry.com/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray sits down with Ben Stein, co-founder and CEO at Double, to dive into the world of SaaS finance, automation, and the evolving tech landscape for accounting teams. Ben Stein shares his journey from his early days as a CFO at an AR startup, to launching Double—a cutting-edge month-end close management platform that automates everything from transaction categorization to flux analysis. 

The conversation covers Double’s rapid growth, including its $13 million in capital raised, the strategic importance of AI in their platform, and the lessons learned from their Series A fundraising. Ben Stein also opens up about the challenges and learnings around company rebranding, finding the right investor–founder fit, and the metrics he relies on to steer the business. Whether you’re part of an outsourced accounting team or building the finance function inside a high-growth SaaS business, this episode is packed with actionable insights on scaling finance operations, go-to-market strategies, and the future of accounting tech. 

Tune in to hear why listening to customers, focusing on the right product, and getting your metrics right can make all the difference in building and scaling a SaaS company. 

Show Notes: 

00:00 Month-End Close Automation Tool 

06:00 "AI Unlocks Growth Opportunities" 

06:56 "Choosing Board Members Wisely" 

10:36 "Client-Based Pricing Explained" 

12:57 Finance Insights: Prioritize Simplicity 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/double-raises-6-5-million-series-a 

Ben Stein’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfstein/ 

Double’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doublehq/ 

Double’s Website: https://doublehq.com/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, hosts Ben Murray and Matt Perrott sit down with Dan Beck, CEO and co-founder of 401GO, to dive into the world of SaaS-driven financial services and the unique challenges facing founders and small businesses when it comes to retirement plans. 

Dan Beck shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the story behind launching 401GO with his brother, the company’s mission to simplify and automate 401(k) plans for smaller organizations, and how modern technology is transforming retirement solutions. From tackling outdated industry systems to enabling instant, automated plan set-ups, Dan reveals why 401GO stands out in a space dominated by complexity and legacy platforms. 

We also explore Dan’s experience transitioning from bootstrapping businesses to raising over $48 million in venture capital, including the differences, stresses, and rewards between these two worlds. Whether you're a CFO, founder, or anyone curious about scalable SaaS solutions and startup growth, Dan’s insights on unit economics, partner channels, and operational metrics will leave you inspired and informed. 

Tune in for actionable advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and fresh perspectives on building a SaaS business that’s reimagining financial wellness for employees everywhere. 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "Challenges of Offering 401(k)s" 

05:40 "Outdated 401(k) Systems Persist" 

07:11 Modular Custodial Tech Enhancements 

12:15 "Bootstrapping to Venture Funding" 

14:19 "Understanding Different Investor Roles" 

20:01 SaaS-Based 401(k) Pricing Model 

21:19 "Growth, Revenue, and Retention Dynamics" 

24:54 "Enterprise Layer Technology Solution" 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/401go-secures-33-million-series-b 

Dan Beck’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgbeck/ 

401GO’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/401go/ 

401GO’s Website: https://401go.com/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In this episode, Ben Murray sits down with Nir Weingarten, co-founder and CEO of Eikona, to dive into the intersection of AI, lifecycle marketing, and the SaaS startup journey. Nir Weingarten shares his fascinating background in academia, AI research, and software development, and how that technical expertise fueled the birth of Eikona—a company aimed at transforming post-acquisition marketing through generative AI. 

You’ll hear about the early days of Eikona, from ideation with his co-founder to securing $5.1 million in seed funding and finding that crucial product-market fit. Nir Weingarten breaks down how reinforcement learning and GenAI can disrupt traditional, manual approaches to email and SMS marketing, creating real ROI for brands with large customer bases. 

Whether you’re interested in go-to-market strategies, startup fundraising lessons, or the future of AI adoption in SaaS, this conversation is packed with insights. Tune in to discover how Eikona is helping marketers unlock new value beyond customer acquisition and what’s top of mind for building the next wave of AI-powered growth. 

Show Notes:  

00:00 Lifecycle Marketing Revolution Explained 

05:48 Social Media AI Disrupts Marketing 

07:21 Mid-Market B2C Targeting Strategy 

10:33 "GenAI Startup Journey" 

14:00 "Fuzzy Autonomy in Marketing" 

20:05 "The Right Kind of Stubborn" 

23:17 "Building a Scalable Sales Funnel" 

25:28 "Client Happiness Drives Success" 

27:38 "AI Founder Insights & Metrics" 

31:24 "Eikona.io: AI Resources & Networking" 

Links:  

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/eikona-raises-5-million-seed-round 

Nir Weingarten’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nir-zvi-weingarten/ 

Eikona’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eikonaio/ 

Eikona’s Website: https://www.eikona.io/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, host Ben Murray sits down with Helen Hastings, founder and CEO of Quanta, an AI-powered accounting service and finance platform designed specifically for software and SaaS companies. In this conversation, Helen Hastings shares her unique journey from software engineer to founder, recounting her transition into the world of finance automation after building internal accounting systems at Affirm. She pulls back the curtain on Quanta’s innovative blend of both product and service, walking us through how her team leverages in-house technology and automation to offer full-service accounting and reporting for early-stage and growth-stage companies. 

We delve into what sets Quanta apart—its proprietary general ledger, instant onboarding for startups, and a vision for real-time, intelligent financial insights without the typical growing pains of legacy systems. Ben Murray and Helen Hastings also talk candidly about fundraising lessons, the importance of storytelling in venture capital, and what’s ahead as Quanta gears up to launch a standalone software product. If you’re a founder, a SaaS finance leader, or just fascinated by the future of accounting tech, this episode is packed with firsthand insights you won’t want to miss. 

Show Notes:  

00:00 Engineers and Accountants: Kindred Spirits 

03:28 Automated Accounting & Reporting Solution 

08:18 "Growing with Our Customers" 

10:28 Business Setup Time Variability 

15:13 "The Power of Storytelling" 

19:27 Flat-Rate AI Subscription Model 

20:40 "Product Usage & NRR Focus" 

23:26 "Find Helen at UseQuanta" 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/quanta-raises-4-7-million-in-seed-round 

Helen Hastings’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbhastings/ 

Quanta’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/usequanta/ 

Quanta’s Website: https://www.usequanta.com/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Luca Cartechini, co-founder and CEO of Shop Circle. With deep roots in equity research and venture capital across the European tech landscape, Luca Cartechini shares how his experiences led to the creation of Shop Circle—an innovative, long-term holding company that acquires and grows mission-critical, profitable SaaS businesses outside the traditional VC and PE model. 

Listeners will get insider perspectives on the realities of scaling software companies in fragmented European markets, the metrics that matter most when evaluating SaaS acquisitions, and the evolving role of AI in operational excellence. Whether you’re a founder considering your next move or simply passionate about SaaS, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on building, buying, and holding vertical software companies for the long haul. 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "Challenges Scaling European Companies" 

03:34 "ShopCircle: AI-Powered Software Platform" 

08:51 "AI in Software Acquisitions" 

12:06 AI's Role in Business Strategy 

14:09 "Pricing, AI, and Value Strategy" 

16:58 "Key Metrics for Business Acquisition" 

22:28 "Operator-Focused, Long-Term Investment Approach" 

25:13 Founder Missteps in Acquisition Process 

29:28 Recurring vs. Usage-Based Revenue Analysis 

31:51 "SaaS Revenue Analysis for ROI" 

36:39 AI-Driven Efficiency and Expansion 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/shop-circle-raises-60-million-in-series-b 

https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/shop-circle-extends-series-b-to-100-million 

Luca Cartechini’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-cartechini/ 

Shop Circle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shop-circle/ 

Shop Circle’s Website: https://shopcircle.co/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray 

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Ben Winter, co-founder and COO at Stuut. Ben Winter brings a dynamic background in management consulting, design agencies, and executive leadership roles within scaling SaaS companies. He shares the story behind founding Stuut—an AI-powered platform designed to transform the order-to-cash process for businesses where working capital and collection efficiency are essential. 

Ben Winter reveals how Stuut’s AI agents streamline everything from invoice communication to payment collection, targeting verticals like manufacturing, logistics, and medical devices that rely on fast cash cycles. The discussion delves into Stuut’s journey—from early customer pain points to rapid fundraising, the importance of founder–investor alignment, and their innovative approach to go-to-market and brand differentiation in the crowded finance technology space. 

Listen in for actionable insights on SaaS metrics, building AI-driven solutions, and lessons learned in scaling an operationally efficient company—straight from a COO who’s at the forefront of fintech innovation. 

Show Notes: 

00:00 "Automating AR with AI" 

05:19 "Optimizing Cash Flow for Growth" 

07:11 Evolving CFO Strategies for Collections 

12:34 "Delivering Value to Customers" 

16:25 In-Person Impact and Clear Value 

19:14 "Non-Traditional Marketing Strategies" 

21:16 "Digital Coworkers for Collections Teams" 

24:09 "AP & AR Strategy Insights" 

29:57 "Scaling Efficiently with AI" 

31:28 "Rethinking Team Structures Efficiently" 

Links: 

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/stuut-technologies-raises-29-5m-series-a 

Ben Winter’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengwinter/ 

Stuut’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stuut/ 

Stuut’s Website: https://www.stuut.ai/ 

To learn more about Ben check out the links below: 

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe 

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/ 

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout 

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray