
Tagline
Real time data for better business decisions
Team
Robbie Bhathal, CEO
Jeffrey Priebe, CTO
Location
Oakland, CA
Partnered
2020
Status
Active
Exited
Bonfire Lead
Company description
Brightflow AI is the financial intelligence platform that modernizes and simplifies your omnichannel e-commerce business, from forecasting to financing. Brightflow offers a modern financial toolkit to give everyday business owners real-time visibility into their cash flow, revenue, demand forecast, profitability, return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer lifetime value (LTV) data. Brightflow also recently added a lending product that allows them leverage data from the software product to make lending decisions for customers who need additional capital to unlock growth.
Why solve this problem?
Our vision from day one has been to “level the playing field in finance and access to capital for the EVERYDAY owner.” Statistics show that 82% of small businesses fail due to working capital problems, which we know is preventable. Everyday owners may not have access to Goldman Sachs bankers, but they do need tools that provide financial visibility and recommendations. It’s our mission to provide them with the data necessary to feel freedom, security, and confidence in growing their businesses.
Hardest thing about being a founder?
The unknown and the sometimes loneliness of the journey.
Biggest piece of advice for aspiring founders?
It's easy to get lost in the future and where you want to go. Remember the concept of compounding and focus on everything in front of you. Things will multiply and your goal is to find things that don't work and continue to move forward. Also, culture matters more than you think, and that also compounds. So bring in people that match your culture and set it earlier than you think you need to.
Most exciting moment so far?
People engaging with the product. It’s always the best thing when you build something people want.
Why did you choose Bonfire?
Jen reached out in October 2020 and I first of all loved the fact that she was a fellow Cal Bear (Go Bears!). Given Jeffrey and I have co-founded multiple companies, we have learned a lot on the construct of a board and having the right people on your side. Mark and Jen were both honest, upfront and engaging in their questions. The rest of the team had a lot of experience in places where I was not skilled given it was my first B2B business. In the end it comes down to people, and the people that work at Bonfire care.
What’s the biggest impact Bonfire has had on your company?
The biggest impact is just the support and honest advice, conversations and knowing I can come to Mark/Jen with whatever concern I may have.
Favorite book, useful tool or app?
Best Book: Shantaram|
Useful Tool: A Journal
Favorite App: Skype