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Lesson 
15
 of 17

Bringing Actuals into the Model

After this lesson you’ll be able to:

  • Build a dropdown scenario picker
  • Determine if the business is scalable (and/or venture-backable)
  • Budget an investment round: expenses and milestones

Lesson Summary:

At this point we have a fully functional financial model we can use to estimate anything we want. It’s now time to put it to good use to answer the questions a founder needs to solve before pitching investors. Check this lesson’s key takeaways:

Build a Dropdown Scenario Picker:

  • Demonstrated how to create a dropdown to select different financial scenarios or data points to be displayed in the model. This allows for dynamic changes in the spreadsheet without manually adjusting formulas or values.

Techniques and Strategies Introduced:

Using Historical Data:

  • Explored methods for integrating historical data into the model for more accurate forecasting. Demonstrated how to automate data import from external services like Google Sheets add-ons or directly through integrations.

Customizing Data Entry:

  • Showed how to replace formulas with actual data to prevent automated changes when adjusting future projections. Highlighted the importance of distinguishing between assumptions and real data through color coding.

Dynamic Financial Projections:

  • Illustrated how to create dynamic projections that adjust based on new data entries or changes in scenario assumptions using dropdowns and conditional formulas.

Resources

Example template

Slidebean Agency

Financial Model Template Tutorials

using-our-first-financial-model
the-base-financial-model-template
extra-resources
understanding-cause-and-effect
example-a-saas-financial-model-template
spreadsheet-formula-basics
example-an-ecommerce-app-model-map
example-a-mobile-app-model-map
example-a-media-company-model-map
example-a-marketplace-model-map
common-startup-financial-model-tools
estimating-runway-and-capital-needs
building-a-financial-model-map
best-practices-and-next-steps
bringing-actuals-into-the-model
company-killing-mistakes
an-intro-to-financial-modeling