Building Startup Finance Skills That Actually Matter
Most founders learn finance the hard way—through mistakes that cost time and money. We're here to help you skip that part. Our autumn 2025 programs focus on practical startup finance strategies that work in the real Australian market.
Learn About Our Approach
I spent my first year chasing investors before realizing I didn't have the financial foundation sorted. The numbers looked good on paper, but I couldn't explain my runway or burn rate properly. That's when things needed to change.
— Freja Lindström, Perth-based founder
Freja joined our winter 2024 cohort after two years of running her tech startup. She came in thinking she needed fundraising tactics. What she actually needed was a solid grasp of cash flow forecasting and unit economics. Now she's planning her Series A with confidence because the fundamentals are locked in.
What You'll Actually Learn Here
Cash Flow Reality
Revenue looks great until you realize customers pay in 60 days and your team needs salaries now. We teach how to model this properly and plan accordingly.
Numbers That Tell Stories
Financial statements aren't just compliance paperwork. They're your business story in numbers. Learn to read them like a narrative that guides decisions. We spend weeks on this because it's where most founders get stuck—not in making the spreadsheets, but in understanding what they're actually saying about the business trajectory.
Runway Calculation
How long can you actually run before needing more money? Most founders get this wrong by six months. We show you the honest math.
Programs That Fit Real Schedules
Our autumn 2025 intake runs from March through June. Classes happen Tuesday and Thursday evenings because we know you're running a business during the day. Everything's based in Perth, but we've had founders join from Sydney and Melbourne too. The format is straightforward: two months of core finance foundations, then two months of applying it to your actual business.
Get Program DetailsFour Areas We Cover Thoroughly
Financial Modeling
Build models that investors actually want to see. Not overcomplicated, not overly optimistic—just realistic projections.
Pricing Strategy
Most founders underprice in the beginning. We walk through how to set prices that reflect value while keeping customers happy. It's not just about covering costs—it's about understanding what your market will actually pay and why. Includes case studies from Australian SaaS and service businesses that got this right.
Investor Readiness
When you do need to raise capital, you'll know how to present your financials clearly. That includes knowing which metrics matter most to different types of investors.
Tax & Compliance
Not glamorous, but absolutely necessary. We cover Australian tax obligations for startups, R&D tax incentives, and how to structure things properly from day one. This saves so much headache later—trust me on this one.
I thought I knew enough about finance to get by. My background's in product design, so numbers weren't exactly my comfort zone. But running a startup means you can't avoid this stuff. The program gave me enough confidence to have actual conversations with our accountant and make informed decisions about hiring and growth timing.
Callum's edtech startup reached profitability in early 2025. He credits better financial planning with helping his team make smarter decisions about when to scale and when to hold back. His advice? Don't wait until you're in trouble to learn this stuff.