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I have worked with Paul for 25 years. He served as my CFO and closest strategic partner across 5 separate companies over those 25 years. Paul and I have been through every imaginable business scenario together, and he has always maintained a sense of calmness coupled with the required sense of urgency. We have together managed through turnarounds, startups, mid sized companies, IPO’s, public companies, and multiple successful M&A transactions across several continents. Ranging from pre revenue to 100’s of millions in revenue and pretty much everything in between.

Many finance professionals operate as though their primary job is to say no. Paul has always operated as though his primary job is to understand WHY and then to help you make it happen. He has always conducted himself more like an operations executive who also manages finance. He becomes intimately involved in every aspect of a project once he approves and secures the financing of that project. Paul has always understood that a finance executive’s primary job is to enable operations, sales, engineering etc. to do their jobs. But he also takes it a step further and provides meaningful guidance and support throughout the life of any project. Paul has always brought clarity, structure, sound judgement and an uncanny work ethic to every situation regardless of complexity and difficulty.

Paul is a seasoned and proven expert at raising capital, restructuring operations, managing banking and other financial relationships, managing both high growth and slow down environments, M&A transactions as both buyer and seller, managing global operations, IPO’s and when necessary winding down operations in the most efficient manner possible.

Paul is an absolute asset to any organization needing leadership in Operations and/or Finance.


Jon Hopper
Partner, Hidden Trail Partners

Paul J. Colan

CFO Consultant

Paul brings over 25 years of proven expertise in strategic finance and operational leadership, partnering with growth-stage and mid-market companies to drive sustainable growth and build enterprise value. His unique ability to translate complex financial strategies into clear, actionable insights has made him a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and stakeholders across diverse industries and challenging business environments.

Paul’s industry experience includes technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, semiconductor, construction, agriculture, B2B retail, and SaaS platforms. His track record includes raising over $125M in equity, securing $60M+ in debt financing, leading four international acquisitions, and consistently delivering measurable results in complex operational environments.

Throughout his career, Paul has demonstrated exceptional skill in scaling operations—from guiding companies through startup phases to leading a telecommunications firm from $0 to over $70M in revenue while expanding globally. His operational finance expertise spans the complete growth lifecycle, including successful IPO execution, international expansion, cross-border M&A integration, and navigating companies through distressed situations back to profitability.

Most recently, as CFO & Acting COO at PulseForge, Paul delivered transformational results by reducing annual costs by $1.2M, driving 50% year-over-year revenue growth, and successfully repositioning the company for outside investment through comprehensive operational and financial restructuring. He led an enterprise-wide ERP implementation and shifted the product strategy from bespoke R&D builds to scalable, serviceable SKUs with recurring revenue models.

Core Expertise:

  • Strategic financial planning and capital structuring (debt & equity)
  • Operational turnarounds and performance optimization
  • M&A execution – from target selection to integration
  • ERP implementation and financial infrastructure scaling
  • Forecasting, budgeting and financial modeling

Paul specializes in advising companies facing financial challenges, liquidity constraints, or operational transitions. His approach combines deep financial acumen with practical operational insight, enabling leadership teams to make confident decisions during critical growth phases or challenging circumstances.

Paul’s greatest strength lies in his ability to communicate sophisticated financial concepts in ways that resonate with diverse audiences—from technical teams to board members to external stakeholders. This communication skill, combined with his hands-on execution experience, enables him to build consensus and drive results even in the most complex business situations.

Education & Credentials:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting, University of Nebraska
  • CPA License (inactive)
  • Former FINRA Series 7 & 66 Licensed

I have had the privilege of working alongside Paul Colan for 25 years as corporate counsel to companies where he served as CFO. Across multiple organizations and complex transactions, Paul has consistently demonstrated the strategic vision and operational discipline that make him an exceptional partner when navigating challenging business situations. As outside counsel to Intelligent Reasoning Systems, Extreme Devices, Xtera Communications, and PulseForge, I witnessed Paul navigate complex and challenging transactions in corporate finance. Whether orchestrating the sale of Intelligent Reasoning Systems to Photon Dynamics, managing multiple equity financing rounds, or leading cross-border acquisitions and ultimately an IPO for Xtera, Paul demonstrated a rare combination of financial acumen, strategic vision, and calm execution under pressure.

What sets Paul apart is his ability to see the complete picture—understanding how financial structure, legal frameworks, operational requirements, and business objectives intersect. During Xtera’s rapid international expansion, Paul did not just manage the numbers; he built the global infrastructure across finance, HR, IT, and legal functions, while scaling the company from 60 to over 300 employees across five countries. His leadership during the company’s four cross-border acquisitions in under six months required exceptional coordination across multiple jurisdictions, regulatory frameworks, and cultural contexts.

Throughout our long professional relationship, Paul has consistently impressed me with his integrity, his ability to communicate complex financial and strategic concepts to diverse stakeholders, and his talent for anticipating challenges before they become critical issues. He brings a calm, disciplined approach to crisis situations that instills confidence in boards, investors, and management teams alike.

I recommend Paul without reservation to any organization seeking transformational financial leadership. He is not just a capable CFO, he is a strategic partner who can drive enterprise value creation, navigate complex transactions, and position companies for sustainable growth and successful exits.


Sam Zabaneh
Partner, at Latham & Watkins