Operations & Finance Mixer: Strategies that fuel growth

Growing a successful CPG brand requires strategic financial and operational decisions. Join us for a virtual mixer where industry experts will share insights on optimizing cash flow, fulfillment, and demand forecasting to fuel sustainable growth. Learn practical strategies to avoid financial pitfalls, streamline operations, and leverage financing solutions to scale smarter. Expect actionable advice, candid conversations, and networking with fellow founders navigating similar challenges.

About the speaker:

Melissa Cafagna

Melissa Cafagna is a passionate advocate for mission-driven brands, known as a “financing fairy godmother” for her customer-first approach. With a background in finance, sales, and accounting, she helps small businesses grow through personalized financing solutions. She spent three years in Europe, gaining cultural insights that shape her relationship-driven approach. Outside of work, she loves exploring Chicago’s parks and city centers and immersing herself in hip-hop and R&B.

Lahari Neelapareddy

Lahari Neelapareddy is the founder of LN Accounting Advisor and TaxHero, where she helps eCommerce and CPG brands take control of their finances with expert accounting, sales tax compliance, and strategic financial guidance. With over a decade of experience in eCommerce and CPG finance, Lahari has worked with top brands providing data-driven insights that fuel sustainable growth.

About Settle

Settle is the best way to run your brand’s operations—one designed to power your brand’s growth. With a unified platform designed for “finventory” operations, you can easily plan, purchase, manage, and pay for inventory. For businesses that qualify, you can Settle now, pay later with Settle Working Capital. Founder-friendly financing to help your brand take the next step.

Instagram: @usesettle

About Startup CPG

Startup CPG is the biggest community in the world for emerging brands. We have 25k+ Slack members, produce the #1 podcast in CPG, host 100+ events per year, and are the #1 education hub for brands trying to improve our CPG ecosystem. It’s free — join today!

Instagram: @startupcpg