Deep tech finance recruitment covers capital-intensive, research-led Australian businesses funded through grants, milestones and large rounds, where revenue is years out. The finance leader has to be disciplined on runway and credible with investors and grant bodies.
Finance built for long horizons and hard science
Deep tech rarely follows the standard SaaS playbook. Funding can run through grants, milestones and large capital rounds, and the path to revenue is long. We place finance leaders who can manage that profile: disciplined on cash and runway, credible with investors and grant bodies, and patient enough to back a long build.
Our own research shows deep tech hires finance earliest of any sector. Of 52 Australian deep tech companies we tracked, 33 (63%) had a finance person before their first announced round, and 20 (38%) made a CFO their first finance hire, against 24% in software. Sicona Battery Technologies is one shape of it: a part-time CFO 13 months before its first announced round, then a CFO two months after its A$22M Series A. How deep tech differs from software, with three hiring sequences, is in how deep tech companies hire their first CFO, the full study is when Australian startups make their first finance hire, and the people who have done the seat well are in the best CFOs in Australian deep tech.
What we focus on for deep tech clients
- Finance leaders comfortable with capital-intensive, milestone-based funding
- Tight cash and runway management across long development cycles
- Credibility with investors, grant bodies and research partners
- The judgement to support a long commercialisation path without losing discipline
Common questions
Do you understand grant and milestone-based funding?
Yes. We brief on the funding structure of the business and shortlist finance leaders who have managed grant, milestone and capital-intensive models before.
Can you find finance leaders for pre-revenue businesses?
Yes. Much of deep tech is pre-revenue for a long stretch, and we screen for people who can manage runway and investor confidence through that period.
Is your network strong outside pure software?
Yes. Our network spans 30,000+ finance professionals across sectors, including hardware, science-led and industrial businesses, not just software.