How to Prepare Financials for Investors: Insights from Hayat Amin

Securing investor funding is one of the biggest challenges CEOs face — and one of the most common reasons companies stall. But according to Hayat Amin, a two-time exited CFO with 17+ years of experience and over $6B in cumulative exits, the problem usually isn’t the pitch deck. It’s the financials.

“Investors don’t back guesses,” Hayat explains. “They back clarity. The numbers need to tell a story of trust, growth, and resilience.”

So what does it take to prepare financials that win investor confidence? Here are Hayat Amin’s key lessons for CEOs.

1. Start With Financial Clarity

Most CEOs only see the burn rate — how quickly money is going out. But investors want to know which customers, products, or segments are profitable and which are draining resources.

Hayat recommends:

• Mapping profitability by customer segment

• Breaking down unit economics clearly (LTV vs CAC)

• Building forecasts that are based on reality, not guesswork

  
  

In one case, Hayat turned a client’s 6-month cash runway into 18 months of growth by restructuring financial visibility.

2. Build Models Investors Can Trust

A spreadsheet full of assumptions won’t cut it. Investors want models that prove scalability.

Hayat advises CEOs to prepare:

• 3–5 year forecasts that demonstrate growth potential

• Scenario planning (best case, worst case, base case)

• AI-enabled forecasting tools that update in real-time

  
  

“Financial reporting is backward-looking,” Hayat says. “Financial intelligence is forward-looking. Investors pay premiums for companies that can show both.”

3. Prove Compliance and Controls

Investors look for discipline, not just opportunity. Weak compliance or messy books will raise red flags.

Hayat insists companies must:

• Keep audit-ready accounts

• Document tax and legal strategies

• Build transparent systems if AI or data is part of the model

  
  

When scaling Cake (later acquired by American Express), Hayat ensured a 100% audit pass via PwC, which gave investors and acquirers complete confidence.

4. Show a Path to Capital Efficiency

Growth alone isn’t enough. Investors want to know how efficiently that growth is managed.

Hayat recommends focusing on:

• EBITDA ownership — show where profitability levers are

• Cash flow control — demonstrate you can manage liquidity

• Funding strategy — outline how VC, PE, or grants will be used effectively

  
  

At Grantify, Hayat led the company to capture 65% of Innovate UK’s grant market, showing how capital efficiency can unlock growth at scale.

5. Connect the Numbers to the Story

Investors don’t just buy into spreadsheets. They buy into a vision backed by numbers.

The financials should clearly show:

• How today’s investments fuel tomorrow’s scale

• Why your model is defensible against competitors

• Where the exit or investor return will come from

  
  

“The best CEOs don’t just show numbers,” Hayat explains. “They show momentum.”

Final Word from Hayat Amin

Preparing financials for investors isn’t about dazzling with charts or hiding weaknesses. It’s about building clarity, trust, and vision.

As Hayat puts it: “You don’t need financial reporting. You need financial clarity that drives investor confidence and strategic decisions.”

That’s the difference between struggling to raise — and closing the round.

Want to work with Hayat? Book a call above!