Building Startups That Actually Work
Most startup advice sounds great until you try it. We teach financial fundamentals that helped real founders survive their first three years. Programs start September 2025.
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What We Won't Tell You
Before we talk about what works, here's what doesn't. And honestly, most finance courses skip this part because it doesn't sell well.
No guaranteed funding outcomes
Knowing pitch strategy doesn't mean investors will say yes. Market timing, network connections, and sometimes just luck matter more than perfect financials. We teach you preparation, not promises.
Cash flow takes longer than you think
Even profitable startups face months of negative cash flow. Your first year will probably involve more spreadsheet anxiety than success stories. That's normal, and we'll show you how others managed it.
Financial models break constantly
Your projections will be wrong. Customer acquisition costs will surprise you. Growth rarely follows the curve you built. But understanding why models fail makes you better at fixing them.
Reading Your Numbers Before They Read You
Week one starts with something simple: where your money actually goes. Not theory about optimal allocation, but tracking real expenses from three Australian startups that made it past year two. You'll see how a subscription software company burned through savings differently than a retail business.
Forecasts That Survive Contact With Reality
By month three, you're building projections that account for things going wrong. Because they will. We use case studies from founders who missed their targets and had to pivot quickly. You'll learn scenario planning that actually helps when your biggest client cancels or your supplier changes terms.
When To Spend Money You Don't Have
Sometimes the right move is hiring before you can afford it. Sometimes it's cutting costs you thought were essential. This module walks through real decisions made by Sydney and Melbourne founders between 2023 and 2024. Not all of them worked out, which is exactly why they're worth studying.
How The Program Actually Works
Six months of structured learning starting September 2025, with ongoing access to materials
Month 1-2: Foundation
Financial statements, cash flow basics, expense tracking. Sounds boring, and sometimes it is. But you can't skip this part. We use real startup data so you see patterns before they show up in your own business.
Month 3-4: Planning
Building budgets that bend instead of breaking. Forecasting revenue when you have limited history. Pricing decisions that balance growth and sustainability. This is where theory meets the spreadsheet you'll actually use.
Month 5-6: Advanced Strategy
Funding options beyond venture capital. Managing investor relationships. Exit planning even when exit feels years away. We bring in Australian founders who've been through acquisitions, fundraising rounds, and bootstrapped growth.
Siobhan Rafferty
Program Director
I spent eight years advising startups in Brisbane and Canberra before building this program. The pattern I kept seeing was founders who understood their product perfectly but treated finance like a separate universe. When you connect financial decisions to what you're actually building, everything makes more sense. That's what we focus on here.
Next Intake Opens June 2025
Program runs September through February. Early registration gets you access to prep materials in July. Space is limited because we keep cohorts small enough for actual discussion.