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Investor view

  • December 19, 2025
  • 1 reply
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J
Apprentice Author
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Hi all,

 

Before Pigment, when we used to run on our planning on spreadsheets, if an investor wanted to see how our model worked, we could make a version of ur planning model spreadsheet, which we could share with them and they could then get one of their analysts to dig down into the spreadsheet modelling to see how it worked for themselves...

 

… but, having fully migrated from spreadsheet modelling to Pigment, what do we do now,?
Assuming the investor has no prior knowledge of how Pigment works, we can’t just give them access and tell them to take a look for themselves, like we used to do with spreadsheets. 

So, I am interested to know, what do people do in this situation? 
What do you give them to look at to demonstrate the model works? 
Or is it that they can no longer look for themselves and must rely on guided tours/demo from us, instead?

Best answer by Johnson Akinpelumi

The hard truth is: You cannot replicate the "Excel Analyst Experience" for them. If you try to give them a "dump" export, they will feel blind. If you give them a login, they will feel overwhelmed.

Here is the specific use case I’d think of:

1. Pivot to "Auditability" (The Governance Flex) : Investors check formulas in Excel because they are terrified of hardcoded numbers and broken links.

  • The Move: Instead of showing them a formula, show them the History/Audit Log.

  • Sample Pitch: "In Excel, you can't tell if I hardcoded this number last night. In Pigment, every single data point has a timestamped audit trail. The logic is locked down, so there are no broken links."

  • Why it works: It replaces their need to check the math with the assurance that the math cannot be tampered with.

2. The "Driver-Based" Export (Not just a dump) Don't just export a P&L. Create a specific view in Pigment designed for export that puts the Input right next to the Output.

  • Bad Export: Just the Revenue line.

  • Good Export: Column A (Price) | Column B (Volume) | Column C (Revenue).

  • Even though there is no formula in Cell C, the investor can visually scan A * B = C and see the logic holds. This is usually all they are actually looking for—proof that the drivers are driving the outcome.

3. The "Guided" Sandbox If they are truly doing deep Due Diligence, get on a call and give them the wheel.

  • Don't just demo it. Open a Scenario, share your screen, and say: "You tell me what to type."

  • When they dictate a change and see the Balance Sheet balance instantly, that builds more confidence than an INDEX/MATCH formula ever could.

Bottom line: I think we might have to stop apologising for not having Excel modelling look alike because we are not working on Excel spreadsheet. We might have to define Pigment as an improved tier of financial governance that protects their investment better than a spreadsheet can.

    1 reply

    Johnson Akinpelumi
    Trendsetter
    Forum|alt.badge.img+3

    The hard truth is: You cannot replicate the "Excel Analyst Experience" for them. If you try to give them a "dump" export, they will feel blind. If you give them a login, they will feel overwhelmed.

    Here is the specific use case I’d think of:

    1. Pivot to "Auditability" (The Governance Flex) : Investors check formulas in Excel because they are terrified of hardcoded numbers and broken links.

    • The Move: Instead of showing them a formula, show them the History/Audit Log.

    • Sample Pitch: "In Excel, you can't tell if I hardcoded this number last night. In Pigment, every single data point has a timestamped audit trail. The logic is locked down, so there are no broken links."

    • Why it works: It replaces their need to check the math with the assurance that the math cannot be tampered with.

    2. The "Driver-Based" Export (Not just a dump) Don't just export a P&L. Create a specific view in Pigment designed for export that puts the Input right next to the Output.

    • Bad Export: Just the Revenue line.

    • Good Export: Column A (Price) | Column B (Volume) | Column C (Revenue).

    • Even though there is no formula in Cell C, the investor can visually scan A * B = C and see the logic holds. This is usually all they are actually looking for—proof that the drivers are driving the outcome.

    3. The "Guided" Sandbox If they are truly doing deep Due Diligence, get on a call and give them the wheel.

    • Don't just demo it. Open a Scenario, share your screen, and say: "You tell me what to type."

    • When they dictate a change and see the Balance Sheet balance instantly, that builds more confidence than an INDEX/MATCH formula ever could.

    Bottom line: I think we might have to stop apologising for not having Excel modelling look alike because we are not working on Excel spreadsheet. We might have to define Pigment as an improved tier of financial governance that protects their investment better than a spreadsheet can.

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