Date: 09.10.2025 (2025-10-09)
Eloise Raynard (09.10.2025) • https://www.linkedin.com/in/eloise-raynard-gayerie/ • Currently in MUC; From France; but was in VIE for some time • QuantumDiamonds: We deploy innovative metrology and analysis tools that leverage quantum sensing for the semiconductor industry (35 people) • Intro via Dimas Urgal
Intro: • Working on an automation platform - similar to Zapier, n8n, UIPath, make.com • Disclaimer: early, discovery phase -> some questions, please be honest
Context: • Team size and which roles? • Only her in the finance team • She works with CEO for approvals etc. • They Also have a working student • Which tools are they using? • Datev • Invoices: they create them manually -> Microsoft suite • No procurement or invoicing software -> plan to implement Odoo • Will cover procurement and tracking of orders • Invoices • Connection of Datev
His Experience & Current Practices • Day-to-day reality: What are the most admin-heavy processes in his finance role (invoices, reconciliations, reporting, payroll, compliance, audits)? • She would like to automate processes -> there are many tools that automate things -> there is a lot of time to get to know the tools and understanding it -> takes time and headspace • Processes: • Invoice: received on email address -> manual forwarding to Datev -> manual check of correct OCR -> double payment is a big problem (employee forwarding the same invoice twice) • Information on status of payments • Datev prefills certain fields -> sometimes incorrect data (e.g. international payments -> separate payment from bank account directly) • Investor relations: monthly information -> extract the data from Datev (BBA and Susa) -> need to manually check the numbers and transform them to investor format • Other CFOs have to do it with macros in Excel • Current process: • They do it via email -> cash on hand and a breakdown -> for cost and burn in categories (people, equipment) -> for equipment she downloads the Datev transaction flow -> import to Excel (replace comma with point) - then a manual process (some Excel operations) and then manual categorisation • Few numbers every month: 30min to 1h effort • Every quarter more detailed: more planning, projection, P&L, CF statement -> easier • Board meeting • Governance topics: they raised Series A -> she spends a lot of time to find out what they have to do with their investors -> • Do we have to share minutes for board meeting -> she uses ChatGPT -> uploads all documents -> it does not work well -> it hallucinates a lot • No travel expense software yet • They have do not have cost centers atm. • Is he automating today? If yes, which tools (Excel macros, Zapier, RPA, ERP features)? • If yes: who does it? Which tools? What works? What does not work? • No automations yet -> CEO wants to keep organisation lean • One: push salary data from Personio to Datev • If no, why not (cost, complexity, lack of time, no clear ROI)? • Datev features are quite limited • More processes to automate: • • Other automations from other people / departments: • • Legacy systems: does he deal with them (accounting tools, banking interfaces, HRIS, ERP)? How painful are integrations? • • Successes & frustrations: if he had a “magic wand,” what would he automate first? • • Ask if he can introduce you to 3 peers in similar roles (finance leads in other startups). • Other: •