Cash Flow & Tell

About Cash Flow & Tell

When do I hire a CFO? When should I raise capital? When will my customer pay me already?! If you’re a CEO or business owner stumped by tough questions that come with growing your company, hit play–and uncover answers from folks who’ve been where you are. On Cash Flow & Tell, you’ll discover that you’re not alone: expect in-depth discussions with seasoned entrepreneurs and finance pros that delve into actionable advice and lessons learned, along with the fun and folly of building a business.

Publisher

FundThrough

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Nov 2025

Latest episode

24 May 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 May 2026

   The Capital Stack Blueprint for Growing Businesses

   Most business owners evaluate financing by one number: the rate. In this episode of Cash Flow & Tell, FundThrough COO and small business financing expert JC Mattos breaks down why that instinct is costing growing businesses real money and lays out a concrete framework for building a capital stack that actually supports growth. From the cash conversion cycle to the five-layer capital stack blueprint, this episode is a masterclass in thinking about capital structurally, not emotionally. If your business is doing $5M to $50M in revenue, selling to large buyers on net terms, and hitting the limits of a single financing source, this episode was built for you. Key Takeaways: Structure matters more than rate. Comparing invoice financing to a bank line by APR is like comparing a rental car to a mortgage: different tools, different purposes. The 30–90 day cash gap is real and must be financed. The only question is which tool you use and whether that choice is intentional. Bank lines are cheaper for stable businesses, but they’re not elastic, universally available, or covenant-free. Know the trade-offs. One financing source creates fragility. Three to five layers creates resilience. Design the system. Invoice-based financing is self-liquidating, scales with revenue, and fills the gap banks often can’t, especially for fast-growing companies. Stop asking about the annualized rate. Ask about the return on accelerated capital. Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling smarter. Explore and learn more: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/capital-stack-blueprint-for-growing-businesses/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-7-listing&utm_content=watch-now #CashFlowAndTell #CapitalStack #SmallBusiness #InvoiceFactoring #SMB #CashFlow

2. 

   24 May 2026

   International Expansion for SMBs: The Finance Playbook for Selling Cross-Border

   Expanding your company internationally sounds exciting—until your payments get flagged, your foreign exchange conversion eats into your margins, and you realize the LLC you set up in another country is creating a tax nightmare back home. In this episode of Cash Flow & Tell, Sarena Ally sits down with Nikhil Nampalli, Head of Partnerships at Loop, to unpack the real financial and banking challenges of international expansion for SMBs. Nik shares the mistakes he’s seen businesses make (and how to avoid them), plus a practical playbook for selling cross-border without leaving money on the table. This episode is essential listening for any business owner thinking about expanding to other markets—whether you’re already operating cross-border or just starting to explore what’s possible. Key Takeaways: Cross-border banking fees can silently drain 3–5% of your revenue. Audit your statements now and stop the leakage. Setting up a US LLC as a Canadian business can result in double taxation. Talk to a cross-border tax advisor before you structure anything. Large incoming or outgoing payments can trigger compliance holds that freeze your funds for days. Always give your bank a heads-up in advance. With the right technology, you can hold local bank accounts in the US, Europe, Canada, and beyond without a physical presence, so customers feel like they’re paying a neighbor. Locked-up revenue from net 60 or net 90 payment terms can stall your expansion. Invoice factoring with partners like FundThrough lets you access that capital upfront. Liquidity is speed: whoever can move fastest with the right working capital wins in international markets. Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling smarter. Explore and learn more: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/international-expansion-smbs-finance-playbook-selling-cross-border/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-6-listing&utm_content=watch-now #CashFlowAndTell #InternationalExpansion #SMB #CrossBorderBanking #Entrepreneurship #CashFlow

3. 

   24 May 2026

   Your First Hire: How to Get It Right & Build a Thriving Culture

   Hiring your first employee is a milestone for any founder, but it’s easier said than done. Get it wrong and you’re dealing with legal risk, wasted runway, and a culture problem before you even have a culture. Get it right, and you’ll see incredible ROI. Shawn Hewat, CEO and Co-Founder of culture insights platform Wavy, has been there. In this episode, she breaks down exactly when and how to hire your first employee, including the legal and HR must-haves many founders skip. Whether you’re pre-seed and wondering if now is the right time, or you’ve already made your first hire and want to set them up for long-term success, this conversation is the playbook you need. Key Takeaways: Don’t hire to grow the team: hire to solve a real business problem. Ask what’s breaking and what role will fix it. Start contract or project-based to validate the need before committing to a full-time head count. Go with intermediate-to-senior titles to avoid premature Head Of and VP titles that create org chart headaches later. Get your legal docs in order first: incorporation, founder agreements, and employment contracts before you post a single job. Shawn’s Three C’s Framework: employees do their best work when they’re connected to the vision, their daily purpose, and each other. Act fast when a hire isn’t working. Inaction causes more damage than the mistake. Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling smarter. Explore and learn more: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/your-first-hire-how-to-get-it-right-build-a-thriving-culture/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-5-listing&utm_content=watch-now #CashFlowAndTell #Entrepreneurship #FirstHire #HiringTips #SMB #StartupCulture

4. 

   24 Nov 2025

   How to Scale Smart While Costs Soar

   What does it really take to grow a business when every decision feels like walking a financial tightrope? In this episode, Lauralee Sheehan—chief creative officer and co-founder of Digital 55—unpacks the raw realities of scaling when costs are high. Whether you’re an SMB founder navigating growth, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes of creative entrepreneurship, this episode offers refreshing honesty and actionable insights on managing cash flow under pressure. Key Takeaways: Creative approaches to managing cash flow when inflation and rising costs squeeze margins The meaning of “smart scaling” and why following traditional scaling definitions can be a major mistake for small businesses Criteria for making strong reinvestment decisions Stories about runway crunches and the sacrifices Lauralee has made to keep her business thriving—and how she stays grounded Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling businesses. Explore more episodes and resources here: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/how-to-scale-smart-while-costs-soar/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-4-listing&utm_content=learn-more (https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/how-to-scale-smart-while-costs-soar/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-4-listing&utm_content=learn-more) #CashFlow #SMB #Entrepreneurship #ScalingSmart

5. 

   21 Nov 2025

   Private Investors 101: How to Know You’re Ready (and Get Them to Say Yes)

   When is the best time to raise funds for your startup? How do you get investors to say yes to your business? In this episode, serial entrepreneur and angel investor Janice Liu, Founder & CEO of Mantis, shares lessons from her journey from both sides of the negotiating table building and investing in startups. From navigating product-market fit to knowing when to raise (or when not to), this episode is packed with insights for founders who want to scale sustainably without losing their footing. Key Takeaways: What investors really look for in early-stage founders—and how to build their confidence Why storytelling discipline and consistent communication matter more than hype when raising capital How to decide whether to bootstrap, borrow, or raise—and the trade-offs of each path The mindset shift that helps you stay flexible as you grow Why conviction and self-knowledge are as critical to entrepreneurship as capital Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling smarter. Explore more resources here: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/private-investors-101-how-to-know-youre-ready-and-get-them-to-say-yes/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-3-listing&utm_content=learn-more (https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/private-investors-101-how-to-know-youre-ready-and-get-them-to-say-yes/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-3-listing&utm_content=learn-more) #CashFlowAndTell #Entrepreneurship #AngelInvesting #StartupFunding #SMB #ScalingSmart

6. 

   21 Nov 2025

   When is it Time to Hire a CFO?

   When is the right time to bring on a CFO? Should you hire a fractional CFO, start with a bookkeeper, or wait until your company is bigger? Serial entrepreneurs and FundThrough Co-Founders Steven Uster (CEO) and Deepak Ramachandran (President) share their firsthand experience navigating this critical decision. They unpack the signals that tell you it’s time to make a finance hire, the risks of waiting too long, and what B2B leaders should look for in their first CFO–through stories of doing it successfully. Whether you’re raising capital, managing complex cash flow, or simply wondering when to hire a CFO, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and make an informed decision. Key Takeaways: The #1 mistake CEOs make regarding their first finance hire: seeing it as a cost center and not a value driver. Signs that your business is ready for a finance hire and what to look for - whether you’re looking for a bookkeeper or CFO Stories about the consequences of waiting too long–and what to do instead. Fractional CFO vs. full-time CFO: what works, what doesn’t, and why How the right CFO adds huge value — from investor due diligence to bank negotiations Key interview questions and what to listen for when making your first senior finance hire Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more real-world insights on raising capital, managing cash flow, and scaling your business. Explore more episodes and resources here: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/when-is-it-time-to-hire-a-cfo/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-2-listing&utm_content=learn-more (https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/when-is-it-time-to-hire-a-cfo/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-2-listing&utm_content=learn-more) #CashFlow #SMB #SMBFinance #CFO

7. 

   14 Nov 2025

   You Delivered. So Why Are You Still Waiting to Get Paid?

   You’ve done the work, your client’s happy, and the invoice is out the door, but the money still isn’t in your bank account. Why? In this episode, FundThrough COO JC Mattos breaks down the truth behind the invoice payment gap that stalls growth for so many small and mid-sized businesses–and unpacks how these delays strain cash flow, limiting your ability to take on new opportunities. You’ll learn why cash flow—not profit—is the deciding factor in whether most businesses survive, and how modern solutions like invoice factoring and embedded finance are helping companies get paid today instead of months from now. If you’ve ever felt like you’re acting more like a bank than a business owner, this episode will show you how to take back control. Key Takeaways: The reasons payment delays cause the invoice payment gap and why it’s getting worse. Why cash flow, not profit, determines whether a business can grow. Real examples illustrating what invoice factoring really is, how it works, and why it’s not debt. The reasons small and medium-sized businesses are using invoice factoring as a growth tool, making it a competitive advantage—not a last resort How fintechs are creating a movement to fix the broken system, enabling CEOs, business owners, and finance leads to put cash flow problems behind them. Subscribe to Cash Flow & Tell for more unfiltered conversations on the real challenges of running and growing a business—from mastering cash flow to navigating tough financial decisions. Explore more resources here: https://www.fundthrough.com/cash-flow-and-tell-podcast/you-delivered-so-why-are-you-still-waiting-to-get-paid/?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep-1-listing&utm_content=learn-more #CashFlowAndTell #SmallBusiness #CashFlowManagement #Entrepreneurship #SMBFinance #ScalingSmart

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.