Mostly metrics
Run the Numbers
E36: The IPO Playbook: Expert Advice from Lee Kirkpatrick, Twilio’s Former CFO
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E36: The IPO Playbook: Expert Advice from Lee Kirkpatrick, Twilio’s Former CFO

In this episode, CJ is joined by Lee Kirkpatrick, the former CFO of the cloud communications platform, Twilio. Lee shares his journey of leading Twilio through its 2016 IPO, shedding light on the preparations, roadshows, and decisions (bankers, soundtrack, tv appearances) made at different stages of the process. This is inside baseball to taking your company public - a must listen.  If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics

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SPONSORS:

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 37,000 thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get a customised KPI checklist.

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Tropic is the next-generation Procurement Platform that’s helping modern CFOs take control of their budgets and bottom line. By combining approval workflows, supplier management, and pricing benchmarks all in one place, Tropic makes savings opportunities easy to find and act on. 🌴 Visit www.tropicapp.io/metrics to learn how.

LINKS:

RingCentral's CFO on Public Earnings Calls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUxRD89qTJc

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro + Sponsors: NetSuite | Thoropass

(05:20) Lee's Preparation for Going Public

(07:05) Twilio had No Comps

(12:39) Twilio's IPO Day Experience

(18:29) Sponsors: Maxio | Tropic

(20:46) IPO Pricing Strategy

(24:44) Choosing the Right Bankers for an IPO

(27:00) Selecting Investors for a Successful IPO

(28:34) The Reality of Investor Promises

(29:53) The Grueling Roadshow Experience

(34:56) Preparing for the First Earnings Call as a Public CFO

(39:38) The Art of Disclosing and Guiding Metrics

(41:10) The Qualities of a Great CFO

(42:29) Learning from Mistakes and Ego in Leadership

(45:58) The Craziest Expense Report Story

Discussion about this podcast

Mostly metrics
Run the Numbers
Run the Numbers is a twice-weekly podcast about financial metrics and business models, designed for ambitious people operating tech startups. It's a collection of things host CJ Gustafson (CFO at Partstech and writer of Mostly Metrics) has learned and thought about in the trenches as a tech CFO.
This show is meant to serve as a playbook of sorts for the stuff CJ wishes he knew earlier in his career, both from experience and from copying people smarter than himself.
Topics frequently touch upon Startup SaaS Metrics, Annual Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Headcount, Equity, Dilution, and Fundraising – and how all of these drive business performance and growth.