Alistair is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) with over 18 years of experience in corporate finance. He currently advises Series B scale-ups in London on capital efficiency and investor relations. His expertise covers complex fundraising cycles, M&A due diligence, and avoiding the common pitfalls of overtrading.
Alistair Thorne is a seasoned financial executive with a distinguished career spanning two decades in the City of London's financial district. A graduate of the London School of Economics (LSE) with a Master’s in Finance, he began his career auditing FTSE 100 companies at PwC before pivoting to the dynamic world of venture capital. Alistair has served as CFO for three separate unicorn-status fintech companies, guiding them through the turbulent waters of rapid scaling and regulatory scrutiny. His methodology focuses heavily on 'financial foresight,' utilizing predictive modelling to stress-test cash flows against volatile market conditions like Brexit and inflation. He writes extensively to bridge the gap between visionary founders and pragmatic institutional investors, decoding what UK VCs actually look for in term sheets. Alistair is deeply familiar with HMRC regulations, R&D tax credits, and the intricacies of maintaining liquidity while pursuing aggressive growth. He is passionate about helping founders understand that revenue does not equal profit and that governance is the bedrock of a successful exit.