Alex Melamud’s strategic insight: capital is built on trust, not timing. As an investor, he saw investment committees scrutinize relationship depth and forecast consistency. His advice—start building investor conviction 6–12 months before raising capital. The impact: stronger alignment, higher credibility, and long-term partners who add value beyond the check.
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Now Watch the Complete Episode Featuring CFO Alex Melamud of Engine
Alex Melamud shares how years as a technology investor and board participant shaped his approach as a first-time CFO at Engine. He explains why top CFOs lead with business fluency, earn CEO trust through “disagree and commit,” and use data to drive capital allocation. He outlines Engine’s SMB-focused travel platform, highlighting savings, working-capital tools, and the importance of NPS and daily volume metrics. Melamud also describes how AI adoption starts with talent and measurement, and how automation can speed close and sharpen pacing. His playbook: make the board an accelerant, not a drag.
| CFO’s Strategy Playbook |
|---|
| • Allocate Capital With Incrementality Discipline |
| • Build Trust Through Problem-Solving Helpfulness |
| • Use Data To Detect Signals Earlier |