Our Journey
When I founded Smart Advisors in 2009, it was with a simple purpose: to make finance truly useful for entrepreneurs. I had seen how startups and SMEs were struggling to navigate the complexity of fundraising, M&A, and strategy, and I knew there had to be a better way. My vision was to bring clarity where there was confusion and to help founders focus on growth, not just numbers.
In the early days, I worked closely with founders to raise capital and structure deals that made sense for their stage and ambition. But very quickly, it became clear that advice alone wasn’t enough. Businesses needed a partner who could stay with them through the ups and downs, helping not just with the transaction but with everything that followed. That’s how Smart Advisors grew into what it is today: an end-to-end advisory firm offering financial modeling, transaction advisory for debt and equity, virtual CFO services, and strategic planning support.
Along the way, we also built a voice in the ecosystem. Through speaking at events to running events, starting publications like Smart Brew and our sector reports, we’ve shared insights that help decision-makers see the bigger picture. For me, these weren’t just reports—they were a way to extend our mission of simplifying the complex and giving leaders the confidence to act.
What has shaped this journey most, however, is the trust of our clients. Many have returned to us time and again, not just for a deal, but as partners for their growth journey. Their wins have been our milestones. Every raise closed, every merger executed, every boardroom conversation made clearer—that’s what fuels me and the entire team.
Today, Smart Advisors is not just an advisory firm. It’s a partner in growth, built on a foundation of clarity, trust, and execution. And as we look to the future, one belief continues to guide me: clarity creates confidence. That principle has been our compass since day one, and it will continue to shape how we walk alongside ambitious businesses in the years ahead.
~ Sriram Sekhar
Managing Partner & CEO, Smart Advisors