The Early Stage and Venture CFO in 2026

Most founders preparing to raise are walking in without a finance leader beside them.

VenturePath’s 2026 founder survey found that 67% of future scaleups have no CFO in place. In a market that has reset around capital efficiency and operating discipline, that gap is now something investors price into the round.

In a new report with VenturePath, our Technology Sector Practice sets out why the strategic CFO has become central to closing a Series A or B, the five capabilities founders should screen for, and the right moment to make the hire (usually six to nine months earlier than expected).

Authored by David Williams.