Financial clarity for Aberdeen founders
Duncan started Onbelai in 2017 after watching too many local tech founders struggle with broken spreadsheets during investor pitches. He spent 9 years working in mid-tier accounting firms before moving into the startup space. He does not use corporate jargon or talk about visions. Instead, he builds financial models that stand up to the tough questions asked by angel syndicates and venture capital firms. His approach is direct: if the numbers do not work, he will tell you exactly why.
Most founders reach out to Duncan when their cap table becomes a mess of 12 or 14 different convertible notes and share classes. He typically cleans up these records in about 11 business days. He explains the math in plain English so founders actually understand what they are signing. Being investor-ready is not about having a flashy deck; it is about having a balance sheet that makes sense to a cynical auditor. Duncan ensures that every cell in your spreadsheet has a factual basis.
In 2023, Duncan worked with 31 startups across Scotland to prepare them for funding rounds. One software firm based in the Aberdeen Energy Transition zone needed a valuation for a £425k seed round. During the review, Duncan spotted a £14,200 error in their previous tax filing that would have caused a massive delay during due diligence. They fixed the filing and closed the investment round 19 days later without any further questions from the lead investor.
Heads-up: Duncan is known for being blunt. If your valuation is 3 times higher than the market average for your stage, he will refuse to put the Onbelai name on the report. He believes that an honest valuation is the only way to build long-term trust with the people writing the checks. He would rather lose a project today than watch a client fail a professional audit six months from now because the numbers were inflated.
A large part of his week is spent on R&D tax credits and SEIS compliance. For many tech startups, these government incentives are the first real cash injections they receive. Since 2017, Duncan has helped 83 different companies submit these claims. He keeps the documentation incredibly detailed to satisfy HMRC requirements. By sticking to a strict evidence-based process, none of his clients have faced a formal enquiry regarding their tax credit eligibility in the last 4 years.
Before opening the office at 88 Queens Road, Duncan was a senior auditor focused on manufacturing and logistics. He knows how the large accounting firms operate, but he prefers the speed of a small 4-person consultancy. He understands the Aberdeen market and the shift from traditional oil and gas to renewable tech. He brings that same high-level rigour to small software teams that need a part-time finance director without the high cost of a full-time hire.
If you have a board meeting coming up or need to issue new shares to employees, Duncan can help you get the paperwork right. He usually has a 3-week lead time for new advisory projects, so it is best to get in touch before you start your fundraising process. You can book a 20-minute intro call to discuss your current financial setup and see if your data is ready for a professional valuation.