Finance and growth
Why a CFO needs relationships as much as numbers to help a business scale
David Horne explains how fundraising, acquisitions and a cautious investor market all reward the finance leader who builds trust across the business first.
Fundraising
Why the Funding Gap for Female Founders Is a Bad Bet for Investors
David Horne explains how one question after a talk led him to the numbers behind the gender gap in venture capital, and why closing it is a financial case rather than a favour.
Growth and M&A
Why Growing 10x Through Acquisitions Can Be Easier Than 2x
David Horne explains how founders can fund, acquire, consolidate and exit their way to faster growth, and why buying a good business beats buying a cheap one.
About David Horne
Business Growth Strategist | M&A Expert | Author
40+ years International business experience£120M+ Growth funding raised30+ M&A transactions completed£2M–£20M Founder businesses advised by revenue range
David B Horne has spent nearly four decades helping ambitious founders build businesses that don't just grow, they multiply. A Chartered Accountant by background, David has raised more than £120 million in growth capital and completed 33 mergers, acquisitions and exits. He has helped companies scale from startup to market leader through strategic funding, acquisitions, and disciplined financial leadership. Today, as founder of ADD THEN MULTIPLY, he works with entrepreneurs turning over £2–20 million who want to accelerate growth, increase business value, and build companies that can ultimately thrive without them.
Throughout his career, David has served as CFO for listed companies, high-growth businesses, and entrepreneurial ventures, including Daniel Priestley's companies, giving him a front-row seat to what separates businesses that plateau from those that scale exponentially. His proven FACE methodology: Fund, Acquire, Consolidate, Exit shows founders how to move beyond the limits of organic growth and create transformational business value through strategic acquisitions and robust financial foundations.
David is also a passionate advocate for female founders. After being asked a simple question following a speaking engagement: why so little investment reaches women-led businesses, he began researching the issue and uncovered the systemic funding gap that continues to exist across venture capital.
