Schedule
All deliverables are due on Canvas at 1:00 pm — the start of the first section — regardless of which section you attend.
| Date | Session / Topic | Prepare | Out / Due | Slides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Sep 2, 2026 | 1. The private-company CFO and the financial infrastructure | Fabozzi Ch. 1 (skim) a16z podcast: Cash, Growth, and CEO–CFO |
Out: Case 1 (due Sep 16) | After class |
| Fri Sep 4, 2026 | 0. CFO Toolkit Bootcamp — accounting refresher, Excel cap-table warm-up, group formation (Required Monday-makeup class (no classes Labor Day Mon Sep 7)) | — | — | After class |
| Wed Sep 9, 2026 | 2. Cap Table Lab — formation through Series A, dilution, option-pool mechanics | Fabozzi Ch. 7, pp. 127–130 and 140–143 | Out: PS1 (due Sep 23) Assignment PS1 workbench |
After class |
| Mon Sep 14, 2026 | 3. Legal and people infrastructure — entity choice, legal documents, worker classification | Fabozzi Ch. 3 QSBS primer (Canvas) |
— | After class |
| Wed Sep 16, 2026 | 4. Case 1: FeedBurner — founding teams and splitting the pie | HBS case 9-809-089 (coursepack) Lebret (2017), Equity in Startups Gimlet podcast: How to Divide an Imaginary Pie |
DUE: Case 1 memo, 1:00 pm | After class |
| Mon Sep 21, 2026 | 5. Equity compensation — instruments, accounting, and tax (83(b), ISO/NQSO, AMT, 409A, QSBS, ASC 718) | Fabozzi Ch. 4 FreshBites 409A mini-case (self-check) |
Out: Case 2 (due Sep 30) | After class |
| Wed Sep 23, 2026 | 6. KPIs, budgeting, and forecasting — driver-based planning and unit economics | Fabozzi Ch. 2, pp. 15–30, and Ch. 13, pp. 241–257 HBR: The True Measures of Success (Mauboussin, Oct 2012) Pre-class quiz on Canvas |
DUE: PS1, 1:00 pm Assignment PS1 workbench |
After class |
| Mon Sep 28, 2026 | 7. AI-assisted forecasting workshop (laptops required) (laptops required) | Download the workshop kit (Problem Sets page) Read the one-page AI-for-FP&A ground rules Verify an AI login |
Out: PS2 (due Oct 12) Assignment PS2 workbench |
After class |
| Wed Sep 30, 2026 | 8. Case 2: Solstice Robotics — taxes and employee stock options | Solstice Robotics case packet (Canvas) | DUE: Case 2 memo, 1:00 pm | After class |
| Mon Oct 5, 2026 | 9. Revenue recognition and margins — ASC 606, bookings vs. revenue, SaaS models | Fabozzi Ch. 8, pp. 150–160, and Ch. 10, pp. 197–198 | — | After class |
| Wed Oct 7, 2026 | 10. Boards, board packages, and audit readiness | Sequoia: Preparing a Board Deck Feld: The Best Approach to a Board Package |
— | After class |
| Mon Oct 12, 2026 | 11. Fundraising — process, term sheets, SAFEs and convertible notes, venture debt | Fabozzi Ch. 6, pp. 100–103, and Ch. 7, pp. 133–136 Bessemer Guide to Venture Debt (skim) |
DUE: PS2, 1:00 pm Assignment |
After class |
| Wed Oct 14, 2026 | 12. Exits — M&A, private equity, IPO readiness; course synthesis and exam guidance | Fabozzi Ch. 2, pp. 30–35 Ramsinghani Ch. 25 |
— | After class |
| Fri Oct 16, 2026 | Final exam, 5:30–8:30 pm, Evans Hall 4400 and 4410 (all sections) | One handwritten cheat sheet, 8.5×11, double-sided | — | After class |
See also: Readings · Materials · Problem Sets · Syllabus · Cases