The Startup Station Services
Services
The Startup Station provides customized financial and business strategy advice to startups and small businesses. We help startups correctly translate their business plan into a financial plan, evaluate the financial feasibility of different initiatives, credibly present their company to investors, and use their financial model to drive the business forward.
We can audit and refine existing financial models or create new financial models from scratch.
Testimonials
"Victoria truly helped "break me in" as a CEO and startup founder. With her guidance, we've discovered the best routes to forming a business model according to the specific needs of my company. From monetization avenues to acquisition strategies and everything in between, Victoria patiently guided me and diligently crafted a meticulously laid-out plan and financial model I feel confident, even proud, to present to prospective investors, as it points to the breadth & scope of work we've accomplished together. Victoria is also extremely generous with advice, resources, and introductions. I currently work with a marketing team she introduced to me and I am very happy with them, as well.""
- Sansan Fibri, Founder of DreaMe App"I have the greatest appreciation for Victoria Yampolsky’s involvement in analyzing financial trends and development the monetization strategies of my business. She is not only an experienced financial analyst but she is very creative and gave my business many important suggestions. I also feel that as my point of contact, Victoria is very professional, patient and compassionate about working on my startup."
- Magda Stenzel, Founder of Stringflix App"Victoria brings the right mix of business and financial know-how and quickly understands the moving pieces. As such, she's able to provide an excellent product, a deeper sense of understanding about the project based on its needs, and a sense of calm and assurance that the challenges faced will be dealt with in a way that drives growth. Personally, she is gregarious, thoughtful, thorough, honest, ethical, and precise. What more could you want from a financial strategy consultant."
- Sanford Diday, Advisor to Opkix"Victoria is an amazing resource that every start-up should have. She is whip smart and diligent. We worked with her on the the valuation of our company and she's been an invaluable resource in refining our assumptions, revenue and expenditure models. If you think you understand the fundamentals of your own business model, got talk to Victoria and get ready to learn so much more!"
- Raakhee Miler, CEO of Bitsian
Our Process
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Evaluate
We begin by evaluating your business. We review your marketing and financial plans, market and competitive research, as well as any other relevant data. We focus on your revenue streams, pricing strategy, costs, and any interdependencies related to the product development timeline and go-to-market strategies.
Next, we identify gaps that need to be filled, and create a detailed roadmap that will serve as a guide to creating a financial model and a valuation for your company.
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Formulate
All of the research specified in the roadmap is conducted by either you or The Startup Station in the second step of the process. We use the research results in order to create all of the necessary assumptions for your financial model.
We clarify your revenue streams (launch timing, pricing strategy, and variable costs), marketing strategies for each revenue stream, your operating costs, working capital (i.e. capital required to operate your business day-to-day), and fixed asset requirements (i.e. computers and any other equipment you may need).
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Model
The third step of the process is conducted by The Startup Station. The resulting financial model contains:
Monthly revenue forecast, Monthly variable cost forecast, Monthly or yearly salaries forecast, Yearly operating budget, Monthly working capital projections, Monthly fixed asset projections, Yearly Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statements, Use of Funds, Yearly Free Cash Flow forecast, Valuation, Financial summary with all the key ratios and financial metrics specific to your business, and a Break-even analysis.
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Analyze and Refine
In the last step of the process we analyze the results and, if necessary, make adjustments to the model in order to ensure the resulting forecast is conservative, accurately reflects your strategy, and positions you in the best light for investors.
Strategic Roadmap
A series of sessions with startup executives focused on creating a strategic roadmap that details near and long-term company business goals in conjunction with operational, financial, technical, and labor constraints.
Startup Financial Model and Valuation
We review your marketing and financial plans, market and competitive research, as well as any other relevant data. Specific focus on your revenue streams, pricing strategy, costs, and any interdependencies related to the product development timeline and go-to-market strategies.
We then create a detailed strategic roadmap that will serve as a guide to creating a financial model and a valuation for your company.
The resulting fully functional financial model will comprehensively represent the company's business model, costs, working capital, fixed assets, capital requirements, and will substantiate the company valuation. The financial analysis portion includes breakeven, unit economics, and other key financial metrics.
Valuation Report
This report summarizes the assumptions behind the financial model as well as all the key financial metrics and ratios. It provides the rationale for how the assumptions were formulated as well as more details on how revenues or costs were modeled and why they were modeled in that way.
Investor Readiness Scorecard
Created in collaboration with Vauban Consulting, a four-hour assessment of investor materials, financials, go to market and sales strategies.
The result is an actionable list of recommendations of how to best position your company for investment delivered in the one-hour meeting with founders.
Financial Model Audit
The review of the financial model's structure as well as of the underlying business logic to ensure that the assumptions are credible and that the model is built to reflect correctly the company's business strategy, marketing strategy, and all costs.
Go to Market Advisory
Created in collaboration with Vauban Consulting, this six-week consulting engagement provides a comprehensive strategic, financial, and sales assessment of your company's operations.Specifically, we conduct a pipeline review of prospects including sales cycle diagnostics, qualification of prospects, and pricing models, make blueprint suggestions to scale the company, create a financial plan for the new strategy, and revamp your pitch deck.
In the end, we will provide you with the growth plan including new sales and pricing strategies, new financial model and valuation, and a refined pitch deck which will all put your venture in the best position to secure funding.