FinKnight, formerly Beetle Knight Advisory, has secured strategic investment from First Move and Gobi Partners Affiliate to enhance financial services for startups and scaleups in Southeast Asia. This investment supports FinKnight’s mission to provide comprehensive accounting and professional services, including growth strategies, fundraising, bookkeeping, and data analytics.
Led by former CFOs of EasyParcel and Signature Market, FinKnight’s founders bring extensive experience in navigating complex financial landscapes.
In today’s fast-paced startup environment, traditional financial practices often fall short of meeting the unique needs of high-growth ventures. Moreover, startups and scaleups face increasing pressure to optimise costs while scaling operations, prompting many to relocate finance and back-office functions to more cost-effective locations. Headquartered in Malaysia, FinKnight addresses these challenges by offering a new approach to startup finance, combining deep financial expertise with a keen understanding of the startup Ecosystem.
Founders with a Proven Track Record
FinKnight was founded by Chang Lih Yen and Chan Qi Yang, two former CFOs of prominent, fast-growing startups – EasyParcel and Signature Market – who met during their transformative finance journeys at a large conglomerate. Both founders spent decades in various roles spanning strategy, investment, turnaround, finance, and accounting.
Their diverse backgrounds provide them with unique insights into the specific financial needs of startups and scaleups. They understand the importance of balancing strategic growth with cost optimisation, making them well-equipped to help other startups thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
In just one year, FinKnight has significantly impacted more than 15 startups and scaleups, helping them navigate complex financial landscapes, optimise their operations, and achieve sustainable growth. Their clientele ranges from pre-seed to growth-stage companies, spanning from pre-revenue to mid-eight-figures USD in revenue.
Investor Comments
Joel Neoh, Partner at First Move, commented, “When I first met the FinKnight team, I was immediately struck by their deep understanding of the unique challenges startups face. It’s not just about providing financial services—it’s about being a partner in their growth journey. We’re thrilled to join FinKnight in their mission to empower startups and scaleups across Southeast Asia with the tools they need to succeed.”
Thomas G. Tsao, Chair of Gobi Partners, added, “Through our affiliate, we are excited to support FinKnight’s mission to simplify financial management and drive innovation for businesses across the region.”
Chang Lih Yen, co-founder of FinKnight, stated, “Joel, Tom, and we instantly connected when discussing how FinKnight could address the finance needs of startups at various stages. We share a vision of FinKnight taking a long-term partnership approach to support these businesses as they scale. ”
Chan Qi Yang, co-founder of FinKnight, added, “We are honoured to welcome First Move and Gobi Partners affiliate as our investors. Their support validates our mission to challenge conventions and empower startups that we started a year ago. With their investment and advice, we are poised to accelerate our expansion, reach new markets, and deliver unparalleled value to our customers!”