An Airwallex Program

Built COMBO's Finance From Zero to €50M Raised, an Acquisition, and Profitability

COMBO is a French HR and workforce management platform for deskless and multi-site workforces across Europe, covering employee scheduling, time tracking, and payroll preparation. Le Teuff joined as the company's first finance hire and built the function from scratch: he implemented Oracle NetSuite as the ERP, automated the billing pipeline from Salesforce to Chargebee, and deployed a cash collection tool that cut days sales outstanding by two-thirds in two years.

He raised more than €50M in equity and debt, spanning the Series A, a bridge, and debt facilities, then acquired a payroll company and managed both deal execution and post-deal integration.

Beyond capital markets and M&A, Le Teuff leads Data and Operations and serves on the board, using AI agents to automate M&A screening and financial reporting. COMBO is now profitable, an outcome he attributes to forecasting discipline and the operational infrastructure built since day one.

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François Le Teuff

COMBO

What Startup Finance 30 is

Finance is one of the most under-leveraged growth levers a startup has.

The best finance leaders don't just keep the books. They extend runway, structure capital that changes what a company can do next, and build the systems that let it scale across borders.

Startup Finance 30 is the first list built to recognise that work. Beginning in 2026 and continuing annually, we name 30 finance leaders at venture-backed, globally ambitious startups. The operators shaping how the next generation of companies grow.

Who's doing the most consequential finance work in the startup world right now?

This list is the answer.

FAQ

More information on how SF30 works.

Who's behind Startup Finance 30?

Startup Finance 30 is published by Airwallex. We built it because we work with globally ambitious companies every day, and the finance leaders driving that growth deserve more recognition than they get. Selection sits with the committee.

Who selects the final 30?

A committee of operating CFOs and finance leaders. They score every candidate against a five-part merit rubric and ratify the final list. See the full selection methodology.

Is there a fee? Can I pay to be included?

No. It's free to enter, and recognition is earned on merit.