Client Case Study:
Covatic

Covatic is a privacy-first ad tech company that helps broadcasters and publishers deliver highly effective advertising across all channels, without compromising user privacy. Their proprietary data-intelligence platform enables clients to deliver better-targeted advertising, more accurate measurement, and stronger attribution for their campaigns.

Established in 2017 by founder and CEO, Nick Pinks, Covatic sits in the fast-moving space between broadcast media and data technology. With a growing team, post-Series A, and backed by investors including Comcast, the business is firmly in scale-up mode and pushing through an ambitious growth agenda.

The Challenge

When Nick first engaged Pivotal Finance, Covatic had just completed its Series A funding round. The existing outsourced accounting arrangement was functional, but it wasn’t keeping pace with where Covatic needed to be. Management reporting was needed more quickly to inform key decision making, and with further investment rounds on the horizon, Nick needed someone who could truly get under the bonnet of the business.

“We wanted to bring the finance function closer to the business,” Nick explains. “We needed to speed up our management reporting and get closer to the numbers. We felt we’d do better having somebody sitting in the room with us, somebody who could check in on cash flow, the ebbs and flows, and report directly to the board.”

The Pivotal Finance Approach

Pivotal Finance began by embedding a fractional CFO and independent finance advisor. Over time, as trust and understanding of the business deepened, that relationship expanded. In early 2026, Pivotal took over Covatic’s finance function, with the team delivering the roles of Finance Director and Financial Controller.

What set Pivotal apart, Nick explains, wasn’t just the quality of the technical work, but the depth of engagement provided. The team took time to genuinely understand Covatic’s business model, including the nuances that make it complex: intangible assets around data licensing, a mixed revenue base of variable and fixed income streams, and the specific language that investors in this space use and expect.

“They really spent the time to know the business and understand the nuances; how our revenue gets reported, how our variable and fixed revenue base works, all of that. The reporting and forecasting became a lot more robust.” Explained Nick.

Pivotal’s presence at board level also proved to be a steadying influence. Beyond the technical finance work, Pivotal had the ability to interpret what investors were asking for, anticipate their questions, and give Nick the confidence to respond clearly and credibly.

The Outcomes

The impact has been felt across the business, both in measurable outcomes and in the day-to-day experience of running the company.

On the investment side, Pivotal played a central role in supporting multiple funding rounds. Most recently, they helped Covatic secure a £1.5 million raise, with Pivotal’s total involvement across the relationship estimated to have supported north of £3 million in investment into the business.

Beyond the numbers, Nick describes a step-change in how the business operates and how he feels about it. The management accounts are cleaner, forecasting is more robust, and the board has greater confidence in the financial picture being presented to them.

“I sleep more. Things feel calmer. I’m sure there’s a more articulate way of saying it, but the business feels more structured, and more grown-up.”

Why Pivotal Finance?

When asked what he would say to another founder considering Pivotal Finance, Nick said: 

“They’re on your side. They’ll support you, encourage you, help you interpret what investors need and why, and give you the confidence in your answer. As a founder, you have to wear many hats. You can’t be an expert in everything. Having the right support framework is massively important.”

Nick also highlights what he sees as a key differentiator: Pivotal’s team have been founders themselves, they’ve built companies and they understand the pressures from the inside, rather than an outsider looking in. And beyond that, they’re genuinely good people to work with.

“They make finance a bit more fun,” he says. “The whole team are really nice people and fun to be around. Which makes talking about dry spreadsheets a lot more interesting.”

In Summary

For Covatic, Pivotal Finance has been far more than a transactional service provider. They’ve acted as a strategic partner through a critical period of growth, helping to secure investment, build financial rigour, and give the leadership team the confidence to scale.

“They’ve done a great job. They are doing a great job.” Nick Pinks, CEO & Founder, Covatic.

If you’d like to discuss how Pivotal Finance can support your business, get in touch for a free no obligation discovery call.