Bushel, a fast-scaling ag-tech company based in Fargo, North Dakota, builds software that connects grain facilities, ag retailers and farmers. As the company scaled, CEO Jake Joraanstad recognized they needed specialized finance expertise to support their operations while conducting a thorough search for a full-time CFO.
Function gave us complete confidence that our financials were in expert hands during a critical transition period.
For Joraanstad, this wasn’t about finding a quick fix, but rather an experienced finance partner who could step in on an interim basis and ensure continuity while they found the right full-time CFO.
In conversation with Function Co-Founder Julie Bevacqua, Joraanstad shared how Function partnered with Bushel during this transition period, bringing enhanced visibility, structure, and strategic guidance.
Function specializes in CFO-as-a-Service, a fractional executive and finance model that provides strategic financial leadership for high-growth startups and scaling companies. When Bushel needed to enhance its finance capabilities while conducting its CFO search, Function stepped in as its strategic finance partner.
From day one, Function's role was to bring clarity and structure to Bushel’s financial operations. What emerged was a partnership focused on building systems and processes that would serve the company's long-term growth.
One of Function’s first priorities was implementing a streamlined KPI dashboard, giving Bushel’s leadership clear, consistent visibility into key performance metrics that had previously been difficult to track and analyze.
The impact was immediate. “That updated take on our dashboard was a game-changer,” Joraanstad says. “It made the intangible visible. We had a clear view of what was working and what wasn’t.”
Function also redesigned Bushel’s monthly board reporting structure, creating reports that highlighted year-to-date performance, cash outlook, and key financial trends.. The new format transformed raw data into clear, strategic narratives that became valuable tools for leadership discussions and investor meetings.
"Function brought exactly the sophisticated financial expertise we needed for our growth stage," says Joraanstad. "They enhanced our entire team's capabilities."
Function's fractional model meant they operated as embedded team members rather than outside service providers, with direct access to Bushel's systems, leadership meetings, and decision-making processes.
"Function operated as part of our management team," says Joraanstad. "They never felt like outsiders - we got to work with them as partners, not vendors."
"We don't just work for our clients, we work as part of their teams," says Josh Yelen, CEO of Function. "That means having the same access, context, and decision-making authority as their internal finance leaders."
This embedded approach allowed Function to respond to urgent requests immediately, understand Bushel's priorities and culture, and make decisions with complete context rather than operating at arm's length. For Bushel, it meant having senior finance expertise that felt like having their own team, with the flexibility and specialized knowledge that comes with fractional leadership.
Function gave me a lot of what I needed to be effective from day one. Complete visibility into board dynamics, operational priorities, and financial systems. I could focus on strategy instead of spending time ensuring accuracy of the underlying data.
The real measure of Function's impact came when Bushel's new CFO, Deepak Kumar, joined the company. While there was still additional work to be done, in the short time that Function worked with the in-house Finance team, they helped build out more helpful reporting and analytics that allowed Kumar to quickly hit the ground running.
For Joraanstad, watching Kumar hit the ground running validated the decision to bring in Function during the interim period.
For Bushel, Function provided more than interim finance support—they delivered a strategic partnership during a critical transition period.
"Function operated seamlessly within our organization," says Joraanstad. "They gave us the confidence and clarity we needed while building systems that positioned us perfectly for our new CFO."
The engagement demonstrated Function's approach: embed experienced finance leaders who strengthen operations, implement scalable systems, and ensure smooth transitions to permanent leadership. For growing companies navigating finance transitions, Function proves the right partner can maintain momentum while building for the future.
About Bushel
Bushel is a category-defining ag-tech company that connects grain facilities and farmers through an innovative digital platform, streamlining the agriculture supply chain.
About Function
Function delivers fractional CFO expertise for startups and scaling companies, providing strategic finance leadership with clarity and precision.
Function provided strategic CFO-level guidance and embedded finance expertise during Bushel's transition from their outgoing controller to the new permanent CFO. They implemented structured financial systems and maintained investor confidence throughout the transition period.
Function implemented a streamlined KPI dashboard and redesigned Bushel's board reporting structure, giving leadership clear visibility into performance metrics and enabling more effective investor communication and decision-making.
Function builds scalable systems and documents all processes from day one, so incoming finance leaders inherit well-structured operations with complete strategic context, enabling them to be effective immediately rather than spending months getting up to speed.
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