Executive Education
Entrepreneurial Accounting: Investor-Focused Communication
Communicating a company's story and financial condition to current and prospective investors
Startups and growth companies face unique challenges in financial reporting and investor communication. Unlike established firms, they often operate under high uncertainty, with limited resources, nontraditional revenue models, and investor scrutiny around key performance metrics. This program equips executives, founders, and managers with tools to understand and communicate the financial underpinnings of their businesses effectively.
Key business questions addressed include:
- What accounting metrics matter most to early-stage investors and boards?
- How can startups navigate common accounting issues faced by early-stage companies, such as revenue recognition, cash vs. accrual reporting, and burn rate?
- What are effective strategies for communicating with prospective investors during funding rounds or even IPOs?
Program Details
Program Dates
April 30-May 1, 2026
Registration Deadline
April 16, 2026
To request additional program information, please fill out our interest form.
Delivery Method
2 full days, on-campus
Cost
$1,700 if you register by March 20, 2026.
$1,950 if you register between March 21-April 16, 2026.
Promotions and Available Discounts
- Discounts are available for Ohio State University employees, OSUWMC employees, Veterans, employees from non-profit organizations and organizations who send three or more employees. For more information about discounts, please contact Alison Cherubini-Hillyer at cherubini-hillyer.1@osu.edu.
Prospective Participant Profile
- Founders and executives of startups and growth-stage companies.
- Venture-backed managers responsible for financial strategy, operations, or investor relations.
- Professionals in entrepreneurial ecosystems (venture capital, accelerators, advisory services) seeking a better understanding of accounting and metrics.
- Participants need not be accounting specialists.
- Build fluency in the financial metrics that investors prioritize.
- Gain confidence in presenting financial performance to boards and prospective investors.
- Learn how to integrate financial and managerial accounting to support strategic decisions.
- Improve investor confidence by aligning communication with industry-standard startup metrics.
- Avoid costly mistakes in revenue recognition, tax, and regulatory compliance.
- Strengthen internal decision-making by embedding accounting into incentive and performance systems.
- Startup Metrics that Matter – based on the Andreessen Horowitz framework.
- Revenue Recognition in Startups – challenges with subscription models, SaaS, and early-stage sales.
- Cash vs. Accrual and Burn Rate – communicating financial health under uncertainty.
- Accounting as an Incentive Mechanism – how performance metrics shape behavior.
- Investor Communication Strategies – tailoring financial messaging to current and prospective funders.
- Regulatory and Tax Considerations – essential compliance issues for scaling firms.
- Identify and communicate the accounting metrics most relevant to investors.
- Anticipate challenges in revenue recognition, cash flow, and performance measurement.
- Integrate accounting information into future investor presentations and strategic decisions.
- Pitch Deck Workshop – participants revise their own or a sample deck with financial metrics incorporated.
- One-on-One Coaching – individualized feedback on financial reporting and investor communication.
- Applied Case Simulation – group exercise using a recent IPO or startup case to practice investor Q&A.