Fractional CFO, Finance Operations and Transaction Support
The Challenge
A natural fibre company had developed proprietary technology for sustainable non-woven textiles and faced the challenge most IP-driven businesses eventually encounter: translating a proven technology into a manufacturing business capable of serving traditional markets at scale. Helmsman was engaged to provide the financial leadership and transaction capability to make that transition.
The Strategy
Helmsman established accounting systems, corporate administration, compliance frameworks, and people operations with an eye toward what the business was becoming, not just what it was. With that foundation in place, Helmsman supported a series of capital raises of increasing complexity, culminating in a significant investment from a strategic corporate partner that provided both capital and market validation.
The company chose to acquire the manufacturing capability its market required. Helmsman supported the pursuit of a European manufacturing operation, managing cross-border diligence, structuring financing across multiple capital sources, and integrating an established business into a growth-stage platform across jurisdictions with differing regulatory, tax, and reporting requirements. That transaction established the template for a substantially larger U.S. acquisition, where Helmsman led the full transaction lifecycle from diligence and valuation through financing, negotiation, and post-close integration.
With both acquisitions complete, the focus shifted to building a unified operating platform. ERP implementation across North American and European operations created the visibility required to manage capital expenditure programs and multi-currency performance across both sites. Helmsman worked alongside a growing internal finance team, transferring institutional knowledge and building the financial leadership the organization needed to own its own complexity.
The Outcome
The company has matured from an intellectual property business into an operationally sophisticated manufacturer with a presence across North America and Europe, supported by over $65 million in structured equity and debt financing. The platform Helmsman built positions the business to grow with confidence as demand for sustainable materials moves from niche to mainstream.
