Welcome to another episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast! Today, host Ben Murray sits down with Helen Hastings, founder and CEO of Quanta, an AI-powered accounting service and finance platform designed specifically for software and SaaS companies. In this conversation, Helen Hastings shares her unique journey from software engineer to founder, recounting her transition into the world of finance automation after building internal accounting systems at Affirm. She pulls back the curtain on Quanta’s innovative blend of both product and service, walking us through how her team leverages in-house technology and automation to offer full-service accounting and reporting for early-stage and growth-stage companies.

We delve into what sets Quanta apart—its proprietary general ledger, instant onboarding for startups, and a vision for real-time, intelligent financial insights without the typical growing pains of legacy systems. Ben Murray and Helen Hastings also talk candidly about fundraising lessons, the importance of storytelling in venture capital, and what’s ahead as Quanta gears up to launch a standalone software product. If you’re a founder, a SaaS finance leader, or just fascinated by the future of accounting tech, this episode is packed with firsthand insights you won’t want to miss.

Show Notes:

00:00 Engineers and Accountants: Kindred Spirits

03:28 Automated Accounting & Reporting Solution

08:18 "Growing with Our Customers"

10:28 Business Setup Time Variability

15:13 "The Power of Storytelling"

19:27 Flat-Rate AI Subscription Model

20:40 "Product Usage & NRR Focus"

23:26 "Find Helen at UseQuanta"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/quanta-raises-4-7-million-in-seed-round

Helen Hastings’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbhastings/

Quanta’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/usequanta/

Quanta’s Website: https://www.usequanta.com/

To learn more about Ben check out the links below:

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Luca Cartechini, co-founder and CEO of Shop Circle. With deep roots in equity research and venture capital across the European tech landscape, Luca Cartechini shares how his experiences led to the creation of Shop Circle—an innovative, long-term holding company that acquires and grows mission-critical, profitable SaaS businesses outside the traditional VC and PE model.

Listeners will get insider perspectives on the realities of scaling software companies in fragmented European markets, the metrics that matter most when evaluating SaaS acquisitions, and the evolving role of AI in operational excellence. Whether you’re a founder considering your next move or simply passionate about SaaS, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on building, buying, and holding vertical software companies for the long haul.

Show Notes:

00:00 "Challenges Scaling European Companies"

03:34 "ShopCircle: AI-Powered Software Platform"

08:51 "AI in Software Acquisitions"

12:06 AI's Role in Business Strategy

14:09 "Pricing, AI, and Value Strategy"

16:58 "Key Metrics for Business Acquisition"

22:28 "Operator-Focused, Long-Term Investment Approach"

25:13 Founder Missteps in Acquisition Process

29:28 Recurring vs. Usage-Based Revenue Analysis

31:51 "SaaS Revenue Analysis for ROI"

36:39 AI-Driven Efficiency and Expansion

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/shop-circle-raises-60-million-in-series-b

https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/shop-circle-extends-series-b-to-100-million

Luca Cartechini’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-cartechini/

Shop Circle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shop-circle/

Shop Circle’s Website: https://shopcircle.co/

To learn more about Ben check out the links below:

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray

On this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Ben Winter, co-founder and COO at Stuut. Ben Winter brings a dynamic background in management consulting, design agencies, and executive leadership roles within scaling SaaS companies. He shares the story behind founding Stuut—an AI-powered platform designed to transform the order-to-cash process for businesses where working capital and collection efficiency are essential.

Ben Winter reveals how Stuut’s AI agents streamline everything from invoice communication to payment collection, targeting verticals like manufacturing, logistics, and medical devices that rely on fast cash cycles. The discussion delves into Stuut’s journey—from early customer pain points to rapid fundraising, the importance of founder–investor alignment, and their innovative approach to go-to-market and brand differentiation in the crowded finance technology space.

Listen in for actionable insights on SaaS metrics, building AI-driven solutions, and lessons learned in scaling an operationally efficient company—straight from a COO who’s at the forefront of fintech innovation.

Show Notes:

00:00 "Automating AR with AI"

05:19 "Optimizing Cash Flow for Growth"

07:11 Evolving CFO Strategies for Collections

12:34 "Delivering Value to Customers"

16:25 In-Person Impact and Clear Value

19:14 "Non-Traditional Marketing Strategies"

21:16 "Digital Coworkers for Collections Teams"

24:09 "AP & AR Strategy Insights"

29:57 "Scaling Efficiently with AI"

31:28 "Rethinking Team Structures Efficiently"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/stuut-technologies-raises-29-5m-series-a

Ben Winter’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengwinter/

Stuut’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stuut/

Stuut’s Website: https://www.stuut.ai/

To learn more about Ben check out the links below:

Subscribe to Ben’s daily metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/

Join Ben’s SaaS community here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrmurray