Performance against plan, strategic progress, top risks, and three decisions we're asking the board to approve today.
| $000s — Q2 FY25 | Plan | Actual | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (recognized) | 5,780 | 6,010 | +230 |
| Gross margin | 78% | 79% | +1 pt |
| Sales & Marketing | 3,100 | 3,340 | +240 |
| Research & Development | 2,450 | 2,390 | −60 |
| General & Admin | 1,180 | 1,210 | +30 |
| Net burn | 2,120 | 2,280 | +160 |
Shift budget from paid to partner-sourced pipeline. Target 3.2× coverage by Q4.
GA in Q3. Anchors the new pricing tier and defends NRR against competitive pressure.
Land 8 enterprise logos at >$150K ACV. Requires the VP Enterprise Sales hire (Decision 2).
2.8× vs 3.2× target threatens H2 bookings.
Mitigation: Reallocate $600K to partner channel; weekly pipeline council; SDR ramp pulled forward.
Burn 8% over plan; runway at 19 months.
Mitigation: Reforecast (Decision 1) trims $1.4M discretionary spend, restoring 22-month buffer.
Two rivals shipped insight automation.
Mitigation: AI insights layer GA in Q3; design partners under NDA; roadmap protected from cuts.
Trim $1.4M discretionary spend; reallocate $600K to partner channel.
Approve senior hire at $280K OTE + equity to lead the upmarket motion.
Introduce usage-based AI tier; +12% list on enterprise plans.
| Decision | Financial impact | Strategic upside | Board ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 · Budget reforecast | Extends runway 19→22 mo | Redirects spend to partner-sourced pipeline | Approve |
| 02 · VP Enterprise hire | +$460K fully-loaded FY cost | 8 enterprise logos, +$1.2M new ARR target | Approve |
| 03 · Pricing change | +$1.8M ARR uplift at steady churn | Monetizes AI layer; lifts NRR to ~122% | Approve |
Three approvals today keep Northwind default-alive and on a $30M run-rate exit. We'll now move to a vote on Decisions 1–3.