409A ESOP Valuation for a Digital Travel Services Platform
Background: The client had recently closed a Series D funding round and was preparing for year-end financial reporting and upcoming stock option grants. As a fast-growing company operating in a highly seasonal industry, time and budget were critical constraints. They needed a defensible 409A valuation, fast—and without compromising audit readiness.
Challenge: Tight 2-week deadline, limited client bandwidth, budget constraints
Our Approach:
We took a structured approach designed to streamline the process without sacrificing quality:
1. Pre-Planning Discussions: Aligned on timelines with the CFO and audit team. Agreed upon valuation methodology and data requirements.
2. Task Allocation: Minimized strain on the client and leveraged existing data from recent round.
3. Proactive Communication: Maintained bi-weekly communication with the client and audit team.
4.Efficiency Without Compromise: Leveraged existing templates and experience in travel tech.
Results:
• Delivery Time: Final report delivered in 12 days from project kickoff, 2 days earlier than planned
• Audit Outcome: The valuation was reviewed by a national audit firm and their valuation experts. The report passed without any adjustments after a single review.
• Client Impact: The company was able to finalize year-end reporting, and issue stock options on schedule, with full confidence in compliance.