Run the Numbers

The Anti-Exit Strategy: Premji Invest’s Approach to Evergreen Capital (& the Future of CFO Tech)

18 snips
Sep 1, 2025
Guest
Sandesh Patnam
In this insightful chat, Sandesh Patnam, Managing Partner at Premji Invest, shares his expertise in CFO and enterprise tech investing. He dives into the concept of evergreen capital, emphasizing its role in fostering long-term growth and partnerships. Discussing the impact of AI on finance, he explains how it shifts CFO priorities from speed to strategic insights. Sandesh also highlights the evolving CFO toolkit, the necessity for skilled finance professionals, and the transformative potential of generative AI, positioning it as a landmark change in the industry.
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ADVICE

Build Cap Table Optionality For An IPO Path

  • As a CFO, start transitioning your cap table toward public-market and crossover investors as you approach an IPO window.
  • Think three to four years ahead about who will own equity into and after an IPO to preserve long-term optionality.
ADVICE

Hold If The Investment Still Compounds

  • Stay invested if a company continues compounding and meets internal return thresholds instead of selling for timing reasons.
  • Weigh opportunity cost: redeploying capital into higher-return early-stage bets may justify selling mature positions.
ADVICE

Preserve Runway To Keep Strategic Optionality

  • Be the master of your own destiny by managing cash and keeping runway to preserve strategic optionality.
  • Build the best standalone business first; M&A becomes a real option only if you create meaningful, scalable value.
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