The Startup Podcast Finance For Founders - Why 'Playing It Safe' Is Risky w/ Michiel Boere, CFO at Remote (Edu)
May 5, 2025
Michiel Boere, CFO at Remote and former Uber Eats CFO, shares invaluable insights on startup finance. He discusses why 'playing it safe' can lead to stagnation, urging founders to embrace calculated risks for growth. Michiel emphasizes the importance of unit economics and correct forecasting over rigid budgets. He warns against the dangers of 'failing profitably' and explains how to build simple financial models that drive strategic decision-making. With his expertise, Michiel equips founders with the tools they need to scale their businesses effectively.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Aggregate Losses Hide Profitable Units
- Public loss figures hide per‑unit profitability and strategic discounts used to drive growth.
- Profitable units can subsidize aggressive promotions that buy scale.
Be Risk‑On For Early Product Growth
- Prioritize product growth over early profitability when testing new markets or products.
- Tolerate early unit losses if leading indicators show demand and willingness to pay.
Slow Failure Beats Fast Losses For No One
- The worst outcome for startups is failing slowly: growing too little while marginally profitable.
- Profitability without sufficient growth reduces future NPV and is dangerous.