Case Study

How We Built Banking Relationships in High-Growth Company

This emerging growth company in the materials science sector scaled organically for five years without any outside funding—growing revenue 10x and achieving profitability. But with rapid expansion came increased working capital demands, and they found themselves needing to refinance debt while building operational discipline for future growth.

Challenge

Strained Liquidity, No Corporate Finance Infrastructure, and an Urgent Need to Refinance

Industry

Materials Science

Services

• Accounting
• FP&A
• Virtual CFO

Cash Flow Pressure Amid High Growth

Despite impressive top-line growth and profitability, the company’s working capital needs began to outpace revenue, creating a financial bottleneck. They had bold ambitions- expanding into new geographies, forging key partnerships, and pursuing acquisitions- but lacked the internal financial expertise to refinance debt and restructure their capital stack strategically.

Without a strong corporate finance backbone, they also struggled with scattered processes and no formal planning cadence.

Strategic Financial Leadership + Operational Structure

A Focused Financial Overhaul with Strategic Lending Support

GrowthLab delivered a full CFO Suite—Accounting, FP&A, and virtual CFO services—to help stabilize finances and prepare for refinancing.

We:

• Built scalable accounting systems using modern tech
• Implemented a finance calendar to drive consistent reporting and planning
• Created the first Annual Operating Plan (AOP) with integrated cash flow projections

To support the refinancing process, we packaged financials into a compelling narrative, guided underwriting and funding, and helped establish a strategic business planning cycle with investor reporting and long-range planning.

We also advised on acquisition screening and due diligence, setting the stage for future growth.

Refinanced. Restructured. Rebuilt for Scale.

Within eight months, the company successfully refinanced its debt on favorable terms—consolidating obligations and freeing up liquidity.

One year later, the company’s balance sheet is cleaner, their financial operations are streamlined, and their leadership team is better equipped to evaluate strategic acquisitions.

The Annual Strategic Planning Process, supported by dashboards and consistent metrics, has improved cross-functional alignment, enabled faster decision-making, and strengthened the company’s ability to manage risk.

Advice for Other Business Leaders

Refinancing is more than a transaction—it’s a transformation.

To build a business that banks trust and investors value, you need:

1. A repeatable financial operating rhythm
2. Tools that translate numbers into strategy
3. Leadership that’s empowered by clarity, not buried in the weeds
   

Final Thoughts

This company came to GrowthLab with an urgent financing need. What they got was a strategic partner that helped unlock capital, structure their growth, and build the internal capabilities required for long-term success.