Strategic Finance · Business Operations · Capital Allocation

Ashvin Sampath

Operational leader with 20+ years across the business side of investor-backed SaaS and global technology — turnarounds, exits, and scale from first finance hire to a $2B organization. I build the systems that turn strategy into execution: operating plans, capital allocation, GTM performance, and Board-grade decision support.

ashvin.sampath@gmail.com LinkedIn Los Angeles / Remote

Highlights

8× Multiple successful exits, up to 8× revenue
$25M+ In operating savings taken out and reinvested
3× Bookings tripled year over year in turnaround

Experience

Molecule Software Jan 2026 — Present

CFO

Brought in to strengthen financial discipline and position the business for its next phase of growth.

  • Executed a coordinated acquisition, equity financing, and debt expansion — adding 30%+ new capital and lifting projected revenue 25%.
  • Expanded AI adoption across the company, cutting Finance reporting and contract analysis time by 60%.
  • Built the financial case for the Trilogy acquisition through pro forma modeling and investment analysis; now co-leading post-M&A integration to capture synergies.
  • Own the operating plan and long-range model targeting EBITDA profitability by end of 2027.
Vica AI Jan 2025 — Dec 2025

Fractional CFO

  • Guided an early-stage AI company through a successful acquisition — built operating and exit models and advised on investor discussions, negotiations, and diligence.
SmartAction Oct 2020 — Jun 2024

CFO · Interim GM

Restored growth, strengthened execution, and positioned the company for a successful exit during a period of slowing growth and executive transition.

  • Co-led a company-wide turnaround with the CEO: tripled bookings YoY, accelerated product launches by two quarters, and positioned the company for acquisition by Capacity AI.
  • Ran an eight-month M&A process from diligence through close, working with investors, bankers, and counsel on a successful exit.
  • Served as Interim General Manager during a CEO transition, providing executive continuity across sales, operations, and Board priorities.
  • Landed the first Fortune 300 healthcare customer and built partnerships covering $200M+ in TAM.
  • Increased customer NPS 3× and delivered three consecutive clean financial audits.
Barnes & Noble Education Sep 2019 — Oct 2020

VP, Finance & Strategy (Contract)

  • Strategic finance lead for a digital subscription business producing 25% of company EBITDA — drove growth bets that lifted revenue 20% and owned the $16M operating plan.
Verizon Media Group / AOL Mar 2016 — Feb 2019

Director of Business Operations

  • Built the bottom-up operating plan for a $2B organization, aligning financial targets, resource allocation, and performance expectations across ~225 sellers.
  • Co-led an org redesign that took out $25M+ in cost while rebuilding sales planning and performance management.
  • Developed a real-time Tableau performance platform leaders used to make faster, data-driven decisions.
Gravity Dec 2012 — Feb 2016

Head of Finance

  • First finance hire — built planning, reporting, and controls from zero through hypergrowth.
  • Co-led financial diligence on AOL's $90M acquisition of the company.
  • Secured seven-figure debt financing and brought accounting in-house.

Earlier Experience

Accenture Corporate development, $80M+ transactions
Live Nation Built the $120M ticketing budget
RazorGator FP&A, $180M plan
101 Communications Accounting + FP&A, most profitable division

2002 — 2012

Education

Indian School of Business MBA, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
UC Santa Barbara BA, Business Economics and Accounting