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Aria CFO Advisors

Case Study

Stake Case Study

David is a unique find. Strategic and insightful as a long-term partner,
detailed and ready to roll up his sleeves for our needs today. David is truly
part of the culture at Team Stake.

— Rowland Hobbs

CEO and Co-Founder of Stake

Stake

Stake is a financial technology company. The Stake
Visa Debit Card, issued by Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., and
TransPecos Banks, SSB under a license from Visa
U.S.A. Inc, can be used wherever Visa is accepted.

Services

  • Fractional CFO Services
  • Advisory Services → Transaction Advisory

The Problem

Stake, a cash-back rental rewards program, oversees a complex business model that combines elements of fintech, proptech, banking, SaaS and real estate. Although the company had raised a Series A investment round, they were not ready to hire an in-house financial team as they were focused on maintaining a low headcount while executing their go-to-market vision. As a result, they wanted to bring in a cost-effective outside advisor willing to invest the time to understand and model their business, participate in board-level conversations and counsel the team during critical junctions in the company’s journey.

The Solution

Aria was hired to provide ongoing fractional CFO support. In a matter of weeks, we took over and built a three-statement model used to establish the annual budget for the Company’s board of directors. We then helped to develop a framework for understanding the businesses unit economics and core drivers/risks that was used in a quarterly board presentation. We also provided strategic guidance to the company during its acquisition of Circa, after which we expanded the scope of work to include a budget for additional resources. 

The
Results

Throughout our engagement with Stake, we have developed a close relationship with the Company and become a trusted partner to provide independent feedback on the trends and risks in the Company’s business. Being cognizant of what is mission critical, we grew alongside them and, when the moment was right, added resources to support them further as they scaled their business. The financial model, supported by our knowledge of the company’s business, has become a key tool to support internal and external reporting.