The CFO's Risk Stack: What Breaks Between Series B and the S-1
Somewhere between a Series B and an S-1, the things that used to work stop working. A close that was fine at 50 people is a problem at 500. Controls that lived in one person’s head become an audit finding. D&O cover that was a line item becomes a board conversation. Most finance teams build this stack in the wrong order and find out when something breaks.
This evening is a small, off-the-record conversation about what actually breaks, in what order, and what it costs to fix late. No slides, no presentations, no vendor pitches. CFOs who have been through it, with the advisors who were in the room.
What we will cover
What to build first, and what can safely wait
Internal controls and SOX readiness before anyone asks for it
Close discipline, reporting maturity and data you would be happy to put in front of an auditor or a bank
D&O, cyber and the risk transfer decisions that usually get made too late
What boards, auditors, bankers and insurers expect from a finance team at each stage
The hires and the systems that actually move the needle
Who should attend
CFOs and VPs of Finance, Heads and Directors of Finance, FP&A and Strategic Finance leaders, Chief Accounting Officers and Controllers at growth-stage to pre-IPO companies in the Bay Area.
The evening
5:30 Arrival, food and drinks
6:00 Panel discussion
6:45 Open Q&A
7:15 Networking
8:00 Close
Panel
Moderator and panelists to be announced.
About the Hosts and Partners
Open Future Forum
Open Future Forum brings together the executives who shape Silicon Valley through private events and peer rooms across the CEO, CFO, CISO, and CMO communities. Learn more at https://openfutureforum.com.
Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner is a nationally recognized top law firm with a Chambers-ranked venture and emerging companies practice advising founders and venture investors from formation through financings, commercialization, M&A, and scale. We bring the speed, experience, and practicality startups need, with the rigor and deep specialist bench investors expect, so deals get done efficiently and companies stay ready to go from garage to global. Find us at the event, meet us at our San Francisco or Palo Alto offices, or contact Louis Lehot at llehot@foley.com.
Lockton
Lockton’s Global Technology Risk Practice advises technology companies, founders, finance leaders and investors on complex risk and insurance strategies across M&A, financing and growth. As the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage, they combine deep technology sector expertise with transaction advisory capabilities to help clients diligence risk, structure insurance solutions and navigate acquisitions, exits and scale. They help clients navigate emerging technology risks, including AI liability and performance, cyber and technology E&O, intellectual property, digital infrastructure, and the evolving exposures created by autonomous and AI-enabled technologies.
Robert Half | Protiviti
Robert Half and Protiviti support finance leaders with specialized talent and consulting expertise across accounting, finance transformation, technology, risk, compliance and business operations.
Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, works with companies and investors across the innovation economy, providing banking, financing and expertise throughout the company lifecycle.