ThriveGrowth

Providing Fractional CFO services to various startups in Fintech, SaaS, E-commerce, Digital Marketing, and Sustainability.

Highlights:
•	Built 20+ financial models, resulting in $10m+ investments and an acquisition.
•	Collaborated with startups to extend runway by an average of four and a half months.
•	Advised on metrics dashboards, enhancing Founder understanding of unit economics.
•	Guided startups in successful completion of Seed rounds.
•	Led incorporation of India "tech hub" entity and UK office setup for an Australian fintech, including FCA license application.
•	Raised venture debt funding, extended Fintech startup's runway.
•	Advised on share option schemes using Seedlegals and Vestd.
•	Implemented financial tech stacks for scalable growth.
•	Assisted startups in expanding their operations to the US market, providing strategic guidance and overseeing the successful establishment of US subsidiaries.

Fractional CFO

SHAY CPA P.C.

Fractional CFO helping investment backed companies with a range of services from financial modelling, fundraising to systems and processes.

NatWest Accelerator

The NatWest Accelerator supports and empowers UK entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to the next level.

Mentor

Wilbe | Home for entrepreneurial scientists

Wilbe educates, builds and invests in scientists solving some of the world's hardest problems. Based in London, Wilbe works with scientists from leading research hubs from Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford in the UK to Max Planck in German.

Finance Lead

Highview Power

Highview Power is a technology company which has developed the CryoBattery, a proprietary solution to extending wind and solar energy throughout the day. The company is now positioned to roll out the technology on a commercial basis. Involved from the very early stages to c. £200m valuation.

•	Raised £55m (equity and debt) over 5 rounds, with thorough investor engagement and due diligence.
•	Pioneered go-to-market strategy for proprietary CryoBattery technology.
•	Secured £22m grant funding for commercial and innovation efforts.
•	Developed finance, legal, IT, HR functions to sustain growth.
•	Implemented scalable systems including Xero, Receipt Bank, CapDesk, and more.
•	Spearheaded Corporate Governance policies.
•	Led tax strategy, including transfer pricing, patent box, and R&D tax credits.
•	Setup US subsidiary included navigating regulatory requirements, coordinating legal processes, and liaising with local stakeholders for seamless entry into the US market.

Finance Director

ENGIE

Assistant Reporting Accountant

Publicis Groupe

Senior Management Accountant

I help you grow and scale your business as an outsourced CFO. Through the company I founded, ThriveGrowth, I get to do what I love: support startups and SMEs with my finance expertise. With nearly two decades of finance experience — six as the Finance Director of a technology startup — I know what it means to step into a fast-paced business and pinpoint areas for growth.

During my six years at the aforementioned startup, I:

•	Helped it grow from 10 to 50 people
•	Raised £55m over 6 rounds
•	Created a finance function and the necessary team
•	Enabled the company to expand abroad
•	Watched as the company almost went under and helped turn it around 
•	Grew its valuation to £200m 

Now, I bring everything I’ve learned to founders and entrepreneurs through ThriveGrowth. With real hands-on experience, I can help at each stage of your journey (startup, growing, scaling). If you need a CFO, advisor, consultant, or mentor to help you grow your company, get in touch.

👉🏽Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/thrive-growth
👉🏽Email me: enquiries@thrivegrowth.co.uk
👉🏽Call: 0203 920 8210

Rakesh Shah

Dampsmart

I first met DampSmart’s founder, Leonard Carey, through a social enterprise incubator a few years ago. What started as informal mentoring and mutual respect has grown into a genuine partnership built on shared values and a belief that innovation should serve people first.

Since early 2025, I’ve been working alongside Leonard to co-design and launch DampSmart’s new B2C model, a mission-led, scalable approach to tackling damp and mould in UK homes.

Our work goes beyond surface symptoms. We use smart, affordable diagnostics to uncover the real causes of damp and mould, from hidden leaks and ventilation gaps to insulation issues and daily living patterns, providing clear, actionable insights that lead to lasting solutions.

I now lead on strategic direction, community engagement, and the national rollout of our new service, helping to build a UK-wide network of local technicians trained to deliver both data-driven insight and genuine empathy to the households they support.

At its heart, DampSmart is about healthier homes, empowered households, and ending the cycle of neglect that has gone on for too long. It’s a privilege to be helping shape that mission from the ground up.

Co-Founder

The Sleek Easy Clean and Maintenance Ltd

As Head of Business Development at The Sleek Easy Clean Ltd. I led the operational transformation of a startup by implementing scalable systems, including a customer management system and company policies. I secured the company’s first public contract with Bridgwater Council and successfully achieved top-six rankings in ten public tenders. I also spearheaded the onboarding of six Dynamic Purchasing Systems, driving public procurement opportunities. Additionally, I developed a social value initiative to address housing damp and mould issues, building partnerships with key businesses. During a 8-week period of CEO absence, I independently managed the business, maintaining stability and productivity. My role included mentoring staff, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering marketing campaigns such as securing a feature on BBC Radio Somerset, all of which positioned the company for sustainable growth.

Head of Business Development

Tazzle Dazzle Parties

As part of my commitment to continuous professional development and my passion for creativity, I established a self-employed role that offers flexibility while pursuing further studies.
Expressive Play: Founded and led Expressive Play, a dynamic preschool group focused on exploring emotions through sensory play, storytelling, singing, and dance.
ELSA Consultancy: Provided specialised Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) consultancy to families in need. To develop tailored strategies and interventions to help children navigate and express their emotions effectively.
Tazzle Dazzle Parties: Showcased my creativity and enthusiasm through the creation of imaginative and unforgettable children's parties with Tazzle Dazzle Parties.
This self-employed venture has allowed me to combine my dedication to personal growth, creativity, and community support while providing valuable services to families and children in various capacities.

Expressive Play, Tazzle Dazzle Parties

Aster Group UK

I successfully lead, mentor, and empower 43 social businesses as the program lead of a business accelerator. This program specifically targets social entrepreneurs during the critical startup phase (years 1-3), providing them with comprehensive guidance and support. My unwavering focus has been on driving remarkable social impact through this initiative while spearheading social innovation within the program. As the driving force behind the program, I take charge of all facets of its operation, ensuring its sustained success. From its inception to seamless execution, I meticulously oversee the
program's design, implementation, and continuous enhancement. By collaborating closely with stakeholders and investors, I have built an extensive network of business support for social entrepreneurs, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of collaboration and growth. To witness my dynamic delivery style and gain further insight into my work, you can visit our YouTube channel inc. The
Social Incubator. There, you'll find engaging content showcasing the program's achievements or the success stories of the
social businesses we have supported can be located on our website.

Foundation Partner: leading on inc.

NHS England

Provided compassionate and non-clinical patient care through personalised 1-2-1 coaching sessions and community consultations. Offered diverse patient care using a coaching model to empower individuals seeking to make positive health
improvements. Demonstrated expertise in crisis interventions, conducting domestic violence assessments, offering family behavioural support, and conducting early help assessments. Collaborated seamlessly within a multi-disciplinary team to project manage complex patient care coordination, ensuring informed decision-making about care and service provision for
individual patients.

Health & Well-being Coach

Wessex Learning Trust

As a Parent and Family Support Liaison: Service Development Lead, I was recruited by the Wessex Learning Trust to design and project manage a pastoral support service for eight schools within a multi-academy trust. I developed the service, employed effective project management techniques, and ensured its accessibility through consultations. I documented support provided, improving communication and recording systems for families and co-workers. I collaborated closely with professionals to facilitate early access to assistance for families and pupils across the Wessex Learning Trust. I worked with families facing challenges ranging from level 2 behavioural SEND needs to level 4 high-level safeguarding concerns. My dedication to supporting families and expertise in service development made a positive impact on the educational community within the Wessex Learning Trust.

Service development lead: Parent & family liaison

Alzheimer's Society

Engaged under a fixed-term contract, I led a transformative journey for a dated day-care unit, aiming to significantly enhance the quality of life for its service users. Embracing this 8-month project immediately post-graduation was an opportunity to apply my learning and deepen my grasp of health and social care project management. As an acting manager throughout the service transformation, I held comprehensive responsibilities, managing the service-related budget, marketing strategies, safeguarding measures, staff supervision, GDPR and overall team management. My focus remained steadfast on delivering top-tier day support services, aligning with company policies, national minimum standards, and our commitment to excellence.
By the project's conclusion, the day-care unit underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, expanding its physical infrastructure and service capacity, while uplifting staff morale and customer satisfaction. This transformation not only doubled its service provision but also bolstered the facilities, fostering a more conducive environment for both staff and service users. This aligned harmoniously with our company's vision of being 'determined to make a difference,' a vision that I wholeheartedly championed throughout this transformative journey.

Day Service Project Manager FTC

Rethink Mental Illness

As MHRW I supported mental health recovery within a 24-hour intensive housing service, carrying out individually tailored support to enable clients to practically address their specific needs, and goals and assist them to move onto independent living. Managing a caseload of clients affected by acute mental illness through safeguarding outcomes of support.

Recovery Practitioner (MHRW)

Knowle West Media Centre

In my role as Youth Media Worker, I successfully coordinated and delivered a £250,000 Children in Need funded project within KWMC, benefiting young children in need across South Bristol. I focused on recruiting and engaging young people in the available projects at KWMC while building and fostering professional relationships with the participants. Moreover, I organised and conducted media workshops in primary and secondary schools within Bristol and North Somerset. These workshops aimed to enhance young people's self-confidence, self-esteem, and aspirations through creative youth work and media tools. I ensured that the workshops aligned with project plans and funding objectives, meticulously planning, delivering, monitoring, and evaluating youth work sessions and broader KWMC projects.

Youth Media Practitioner

As a results-driven business development leader, I thrive at the intersection of strategic growth, innovation, and social impact.

Currently, I’m proud to be co-leading Dampsmart, a disruptive force in the UK’s damp and mould sector. Working alongside founder Leonard Carey, we’re delivering smart, affordable, and data-led diagnostics to tackle the root causes of damp-related health issues, not just the symptoms. This work is deeply personal: I know first hand the impact poor housing can have on health and dignity. Our mission is to help landlords, tenants, and housing providers get ahead of Awaab’s Law, not just to comply, but to protect lives.

Earlier in my career, I led inc. The Social Incubator, a transformative programme supporting over 40 early-stage social enterprises during their critical first years. Through tailored mentorship and robust networks, I helped founders turn their ideas into sustainable impact.

With a diverse background in health, social care, and entrepreneurship, I bring a unique perspective to aligning commercial objectives with meaningful societal outcomes. Whether I’m securing major contracts, championing innovation, or building inclusive systems, I care about work that delivers lasting value, for clients, communities, and the planet.

Let’s connect to explore how I can help drive strategic, purpose-led growth for your organisation.

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The Battle

Rakesh Shah

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