CASE STUDY
Round grants Genie’s three financial wishes
E-commerce disruptor Genie, faced financial turbulence after Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. Like many early-stage startups, Genie needed stable returns on its capital, real-time financial visibility, and effective controls without costly hires. Round delivered the clarity and efficiency they needed.
Sebastiaan Debrouwere
Founder
Post-SVB Challenges
In early 2023, Genie’s plan to maximise interest rates through multiple bank accounts was derailed by the sudden collapse of SVB. Opening new accounts was slow and complex, with some taking six months to set up.
“It took months to get the accounts open, and by the time we were ready to execute, our main bank, Silicon Valley Bank, went out of business,” says Seb, Founder at Genie.
Genie relied on just a few operational accounts, leaving the company exposed. Without a finance team, treasury management became a time-consuming distraction from product development and growth.
A Treasury Solution That Works
After considering competitors, Genie found most platforms either unsuitable for the UK market or overly complex. Round stood out with its straightforward approach designed for use by startup Founders.
“Round made it easy to open interactive broker accounts, allowing us to retain control over investments. The dashboard was intuitive, providing clear reporting on monthly interest,” Seb recalls.
Round provided more than just a banking tool—it gave Genie the visibility and automation needed to simplify treasury management and investor reporting
Wishes Granted - Time Savings, Cost Reductions, and Clarity
With Round, Genie turned a major operational pain into a streamlined process:
“Since opening the account in March, we’ve earned significantly more interest. Updating investors on cash balances, runway, and performance is now much simpler and faster,” Seb notes.
Time Saved
Treasury tasks now take just a few hours per month, eliminating the need for a part-time CFO or saving £70–90k annually on a finance hire.
Investor Transparency
Real-time reporting has boosted investor confidence with accurate, instant updates.
Growth Focus
With treasury simplified, Genie’s team could now focus on building the business.
Features That Deliver Results for Genie
“We can handle everything as part of someone’s existing role, focusing on building and selling rather than managing another reporting line,” Seb explains.
Xero Integration
Automates reporting, reduces admin and ensures seamless accounting.
Connected Dashboard
Instantly shows cash balances, runway, and monthly interest, cutting out guesswork.
Scalable Processes
Banking changes no longer cause chaos and Round has helped build a solid foundation for growth.
What Seb Had to Say