OUR SCORECARD: WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH US.
In 2023, we applied for a grant to build a smart microgrid on Great Barrier Island (Aotea). Tom built a financial model and a business plan to support the grant application. The application was successful, and we are on track to deploy the grid in early 2025. Tom’s work was integral to the success of the application. Collaborating on the grant application has now evolved into a long-term strategic partnership with Constellation. Tom’s financial expertise is clear, and he displays sound, commercial judgment. He has quickly become a trusted advisor to myself and to the Aotea Energy team. The partnership with Constellation has been – and will continue to be – critical to our success.
Tama Toki, founder.
AOTEA ENERGY
Tom has been an absolutely vital part of our journey in raising capital for monsera intimates. As a trusted advisor, he has provided guidance that extends beyond expectations, not only in his commitment to the business but in his invaluable advice, thorough attention to detail, and the remarkable clarity he brings to our financial operations. His approach is transparent and structured, making complex financial matters easy for us to understand and empowering us to make informed decisions. I have never worked with someone as proactive, timely, and genuinely caring as Tom. Tom is an extraordinary professional, and without his financial expertise and support, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We are immensely grateful for everything he has done for us.
Monique Hristovska, founder.
MONSERA
Aotea Health is at a real inflection point right now, as we look to transition from a start-up, doing business primarily in New Zealand, to a global biopharma brand. We have been working closely with Constellation for over a year. With Tom’s support, we have implemented budgeting and business planning processes, introduced regular reporting, and set a clear path for the coming years in the form of a 5-year strategic plan. Working with Constellation has been transformative for Aotea Health. Tom’s expert guidance has brought a level of sophistication to our financial decision-making that will be critical as we continue to grow. Having a mandate with Constellation gives us all of the benefits of a CFO without paying for time or for services that we don’t need right now. It’s a perfect match.
Brady McCabe, COO.
AOTEA HEALTH
Tom was an integral part of our capital raise. His knowledge and experience across financial modelling, valuation and strategic planning was exactly what we needed, and the only regret we have is not getting him onboard sooner. What started out as a few ad-hoc tasks very quickly turned into a fractional CFO position as we realized his work ethic, extensive experience and passion for our business. It's not often you meet someone who instantly has such a positive effect. He immersed himself in our business from day #1 to make sure he understood every moving part - which I very much admired. I don’t think of Tom as just a CFO, I think of him as someone who shows up every single day like a founder. This year has been one of the toughest yet for our business, and through it all, Tom has been calm, clear and fully committed. He’s the one asking the hard questions, building the models, and then rolling up his sleeves to help get in the weeds too. He doesn’t just track and monitor the numbers with a fine tooth comb, he uses them to help us make better, strategic decisions. What makes Tom stand out isn’t just his financial skill (which is next level), it’s the way he thinks beyond the numbers. He genuinely cares about our mission, our content, the team, and the community we’re building. He’s also one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met and yet somehow, one of the kindest too. He’s poured his heart into this business, and I truly believe we wouldn’t be where we are without him. Tom is building the future of what a CFO should look like: deeply strategic, endlessly curious, and completely invested in the mission.
Victoria Harris and Sophie Hallwright, founders.
THE CURVE
Tom has provided me with invaluable support across financial modelling and go to market strategy as we prepare for our first investment round. He is unfailingly professional, considered and hard working and brings a wealth of experience and expertise, translating complex concepts so that they can be easily understood. To say that he has gone over and above would be an understatement. Tom grasped my vision for the business and technology roadmap in record time with genuine enthusiasm and interest, fast becoming my go-to person for advice across a broad range of topics as they relate to funding, business model, channel strategy, expansion and more. He even accompanied me to a meeting abroad for which I needed another set of ears and eyes as support. Every solo founder knows the loneliness of the entrepreneurial journey and the knowledge gaps that accompany it. Tom has immeasurably helped me to offset these challenges and get pitch ready. I am extremely grateful and have no doubt that he will be an integral part of the Stark NKD journey.
ANNA STARK, FOUNDER.
STARK NKD
I cant recommend working with Tom more highly. Fund HQ is at a pivotal point in its business life cycle and we needed objective analysis, financial modelling, clarity and a trusted pair of eyes to advise us through this. Tom is a consummate professional and he helped us to put in place a framework for strategic and financial analysis as well as reasoned and clear preparation and thinking for future development and growth options. Tom acts as a partner, not a service provider to the business (which follows our own model) and so working with Tom was a natural fit. Client service and quickly understanding motivation and guiding on strategy was outstanding. We are looking forward to working with Tom (and Constellation) further in the future - anyone would be lucky to have him and/or the team working with them.