At a Glance
For SEMPRE, a fast-growing defense-tech company on the verge of major investment, clarity and credibility were everything. Partnering with SC&H turned complex financial challenges into a launchpad for Series A success.
Key Results
33%
more capital raised than Series A target
$500k+
in payables reduced through vendor negotiations
99.9%
AP/AR accuracy
Client
“Startups all suffer from the same thing — nobody has capacity in accounting. SC&H pulled up alongside us and brought substantial expertise in the areas we needed, at exactly the level we could handle as a startup.”
Scott Baum
COO, SEMPRE
Client Challenges
Needed investor-ready financial plan and reporting
Accounting systems lacked structure for scaling
Pricing strategy didn’t align with costs and growth goals
Missed opportunities for R&D tax credits and cost savings
Multi-state operations required stronger compliance oversight
SC&H Solutions
Developed five-year strategic and financial plan for investors
Cleaned up AP/AR and reconciled multiple entities
Implemented weekly payment process to improve cash flow
Consolidated insurance brokers and optimized benefit plans
Introduced rolling forecasts, liquidity models, and financial dashboards
The Results: Investor Confidence, Streamlined Operations, and a Scalable Finance Function
$500k+
in payables reduced through vendor negotiations
99.9%
AP/AR accuracy
2X
employee growth in two years
SC&H Team Lead & Fractional CFO
THE STORY
A Mission that Needed Financial Maturity
SEMPRE is a growing technology company delivering resilient, secure communication systems for the government and defense sector. With customers that include the Department of Defense and Fortune 500 enterprises, the team was gaining momentum quickly, but their internal finance function hadn’t yet scaled to match their growth.
Like many early-stage startups, SEMPRE was focused on innovation and customers first. But to continue scaling and attract investors, they needed more structure behind the scenes, like consistent reporting, stronger processes, and the ability to tell a clear financial story.
That’s where SC&H stepped in.
Building a Foundation for Investor Confidence
When we first partnered with SEMPRE, they were preparing for its Series A fundraising round and needed financials that could stand up to investor scrutiny. Our fractional CFO advisors developed a three-to-five-year strategic business plan complete with TAM/SAM market analysis and recurring revenue projections to demonstrate long-term value.
Our team also uncovered unclaimed R&D tax credits, turning prior filings into real cash, and helped rationalize SEMPRE’s entity structure to simplify accounting across multiple business lines. These early wins positioned SEMPRE as a credible, investor-ready organization.
With accurate models and an investor-ready deck, SEMPRE successfully completed its Series A fundraising round, exceeding its original target by 33%.
“Our Series A was a success because we were able to both model the outcomes we wanted and present the financial health of the company correctly. The ability to generate the necessary financials quickly to talk to potential investors was critical,” said Scott.
We also guided SEMPRE in securing a sizeable debt facility, providing the liquidity needed to support its next stage of growth.
“What kills you as a startup is the unforecasted ‘oh sh*t’ moments,” said Scott. “The more predictable you can make your costs, the more operational flexibility you have.”
Turning Complexity Into Confidence
Behind the scenes, SEMPRE’s back office needed discipline and structure. We identified opportunities to streamline disconnected systems and strengthen vendor management.
Our outsourced accounting team cleaned up AP/AR, reconciled accounts across multiple entities, and rebuilt the company’s vendor management process from the ground up. SEMPRE now receives all supplier invoices through Bill.com, where each invoice is processed, verified, and matched to W-9s before payment.
Shifting from daily payments to a structured weekly schedule improved cash visibility and eliminated unnecessary spend, ultimately freeing up more than $500,000 in payables.
Through these improvements, SEMPRE reached 99.9% AP/AR accuracy, strengthening the foundation for confident decision-making and investor reporting.
Maximizing Every Dollar
All startups face tough decisions about where to invest limited capital, and SEMPRE was no exception. We worked closely with leadership to optimize cash flow and right-size costs across payroll, benefits, and operations. This included building a clear pricing model that improved cash flow and strengthened recurring revenue while protecting margins.
“As a startup, every dollar you spend is a dollar you’re not putting into product development or marketing, so you have to make it count,” said Scott. “SC&H helped us optimize those dollars in the best way possible. Developing your product, hiring people, and scaling it all while staying compliant is an art, not a science.”
By consolidating multiple insurance brokers into a single relationship, SEMPRE reduced costs and simplified plan management with the right level of coverage. Our payroll team also provided PEO evaluation guidance and advised on payroll, treasury, and cash management routines to keep the company agile.
Scaling in the Federal Space
As SEMPRE’s footprint grew, so did the complexity of working in the government contracting space. Federal business comes with unique compliance, reporting, and regulatory challenges, and SEMPRE needed a partner who understood that world.
Our advisors helped the team navigate those complexities, implementing processes to support compliance while continuing to scale operations and headcount.
“SC&H brought a depth of understanding of how to work in the federal space. There’s so many accounting and regulatory requirements that you have to always be cognizant of. And I tip my hat to Chris Norem, who has helped tremendously to make sure that we are always compliant,” said Scott.
In just two years, SEMPRE doubled its employee count, expanded its client base, and built a scalable back-office infrastructure to support continued growth. With a dispersed, remote workforce, the company now recruits top talent from across the country, a structure that keeps them agile and competitive in the defense-tech space.
“I’ve been really impressed with SC&H’s depth and the range of what they bring to the table — everything from the transactional side like payables and receivables to PEO consulting, defense-specific accounting, and even accounting opinions. That breadth has been incredibly valuable to us as a startup,” said Scott.
The Road Ahead
With solid financial systems, an investor-backed foundation, and a team that understands the demands of the defense sector, SEMPRE is poised for its next phase of growth. We continue to work alongside the company as a strategic partner, delivering fractional CFO insight, outsourced accounting, and financial leadership that scales as they do.
“We’re focused on scaling the business now. We have some great customers, Fortune 500 customers we’re really proud of, and we’re excited to keep expanding those relationships,” said Scott.
