Finance For Founders - Why 'Playing It Safe' Is Risky w/ Michiel Boere, CFO at Remote (Edu)

Finance For Founders - Why 'Playing It Safe' Is Risky w/ Michiel Boere, CFO at Remote (Edu)

Author: Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad May 5, 2025 Duration: 52:14

Think staying profitable means you’re on the right track? Think again.

Too many founders obsess over budgets and burn—but the real risk isn’t running out of cash. It’s growing too slowly to matter.


In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Michiel Boere, CFO of Remote and former CFO of Uber Eats, to demystify startup finance for non-financial founders. Drawing from his experience scaling Uber and managing 50+ audits at Remote, Michiel shares the strategic financial mindset every founder must adopt to succeed.

In this episode, you will:

  • Learn why “failing profitably” is often worse than burning cash fast
  • Understand unit economics the way a CFO at Uber would
  • Discover the difference between forecasting, planning, and budgeting—and when each matters
  • Avoid the trap of letting budgets drive bad spending decisions
  • Get a practical framework for building simple, high-impact financial models
  • See why many founders misuse runway and how to forecast it properly
  • Hear why CFOs should embrace risk at the right stage of growth


If you’re a founder who wants to build a high-growth, venture-backable business—and avoid the financial blind spots that kill startups—this episode is essential listening.


The Pact

Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/

Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg

Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following


Key links

The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in-demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.vanta.com/tsp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/


Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/


#StartupFinance #FounderAdvice #RemoteWork #TheStartupPodcast #AIStartup #StartupGrowth #VentureCapital #StartupTips


For founders tired of abstract theory and looking for the concrete mechanics of building a high-growth company, The Startup Podcast offers a direct line to actionable knowledge. Hosts Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad bypass the usual interview format to deliver focused masterclasses and tactical advice drawn from their own decades in the trenches. Each episode digs into a specific challenge, whether it's navigating the nuances of raising Venture Capital, refining product strategy, or engineering sustainable growth. This isn't about general inspiration; it's a practical guide to adopting the distinct mindset and operational approaches that fuel Silicon Valley-style disruption. Listeners will find a clear roadmap covering the essential pillars: strategy, marketing, product development, and beyond. By consistently translating complex concepts into executable steps, this podcast serves as a vital resource for entrepreneurs determined to move beyond idea and into execution. Bernstein and Saad's combined experience provides a trusted foundation, making each session feel like a focused workshop aimed at building something that truly changes the game.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Startup Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Recruiting the best AI engineers w/ Matt Cook of Scouut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
Has your hiring process kept up with the industry’s AI leaps, or are you still interviewing like it's 2022?Today’s AI-driven landscape means the skill gap between a good engineer and a great one widens every day, and the…
How founders can survive 2026 w/ Jess Mah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:56
Is AI making founders more anxious than ever, even in the heart of Silicon Valley? Behind the optimistic LinkedIn posts and fundraising announcements, some of the most successful people in tech are struggling with burnou…