Fresh out of a hedge fund analyst role, Erik Rothschild walked into an interview at a Chicago-based trading firm and did something unexpected—he pitched actual trade ideas to the portfolio manager across the table. That bold move earned him a spot on the team, and eventually, a portfolio of his own. “That whole experience taught me how to assess decisions through the lens of an investment,” Rothschild tells us. It’s a mindset that has quietly shaped every leadership decision he’s made since.
Read MoreRothschild’s early career was forged in the high-stakes world of investment finance during the 2008 financial crisis. He later transitioned into corporate finance, helping build out the FP&A function at Sovereign. When the CFO unexpectedly departed, Rothschild found himself reporting directly to the CEO—presenting financial results to the board and leading a complex equity raise. “It was both exciting and stressful,” he recalls, “but I knew I had a window to gain experience that would last a lifetime.”
What sets Rothschild apart is the investor’s mindset he brings to the CFO role at Cin7. He encourages his team to think in bets—evaluating risks, testing hypotheses, and acting decisively. He’s also a champion of simplicity and automation, challenging his team to reduce low-ROI cycles and focus on what matters most.
“Don’t be afraid of change. There were several times I wished I had moved more quickly to do what I knew was right—never have I wished I had waited longer. Trust your instincts about what the right thing to do is, and if you need to make changes, don’t wait—take action!” —Erik Rothschild, CFO, Cin7
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CFOTL: Tell us about this company—what does it do, and what are its offerings today?
Rothschild: Cin7 is an inventory and supply chain management software platform that helps our customers—primarily product sellers—integrate their entire inventory, sales channels, point of sale systems, and broader supply chain into one central system. They do this to optimize their business operations.
As consumers, we know how easy it is to buy a product today—Amazon has a one-click buy button, right? But for the modern product seller, it’s a much more complex world. These businesses must manage multiple sales channels, which might include their own Shopify site, Amazon, Walmart, traditional retailers, or B2B customers—you name it. They also need to manage suppliers, oversee production processes, track inventory levels across warehouses, and understand profitability (by SKU, by product) across all of these channels. This is further complicated by tariffs and other global uncertainties.
Read MoreOn top of that, they have to anticipate demand so they don’t miss revenue opportunities by running out of stock—or tie up valuable capital in overstocked inventory. Our platform is designed to help them manage all of that in one system, and scale with them as their business grows.
Cin7 is primarily focused on serving small and midsize businesses (SMBs), and we work across most verticals and industries. We currently support more than 8,000 customers. The company was originally founded in New Zealand, and in 2019, our private equity sponsor, Rubicon Technology Partners, took a controlling stake and relocated the business to Denver—which is where we’re based today.
Cin7 | www.get.cin7.com | Denver, CO