Financial Modeling Built on Real Experience
We started teaching financial modeling in 2017 because we noticed a gap. People wanted practical skills, not just theory. Our approach comes from years spent building models in the field—not just in classrooms.
Where sylvoremita Actually Came From
Back in 2016, I was working with a startup in Sydney that needed financial projections for their Series A round. They'd hired someone with impressive credentials, but the models were unusable. Beautiful spreadsheets that made zero sense operationally.
That project took three months to fix. And during those months, I kept thinking about how many people learn financial modeling from textbooks without understanding how businesses actually work. The formulas are one thing—knowing what assumptions to challenge is something else entirely.
So we built sylvoremita around that idea. Teaching people to build models that companies can actually use. Models that boards trust. Models that hold up when assumptions change—which they always do.
How We Actually Teach This
Financial modeling isn't memorizing Excel functions. It's understanding business mechanics well enough to translate them into numbers that guide decisions.
Business Logic First
We start with understanding what drives a business. Revenue models, cost structures, capital requirements. The numbers come after you understand the mechanics.
Build Real Scenarios
You'll work through actual business cases—from SaaS companies to manufacturing operations. Each one teaches different modeling challenges you'll face in practice.
Stress-Test Everything
Good models survive contact with reality. We teach sensitivity analysis, scenario planning, and how to identify which assumptions actually matter versus which ones don't.
Callum Broxholme
Lead Instructor & FounderI've been building financial models since 2011. Started in investment banking, moved to corporate finance, then spent five years consulting for early-stage companies trying to raise capital.
The transition to teaching happened gradually. I kept running weekend workshops for people who needed to understand financial modeling for their roles but hadn't been formally trained. By 2017, those workshops had turned into a full curriculum.
What I focus on in our programs is pattern recognition. Once you've built enough models across different industries, you start seeing the underlying structures. That's what separates someone who can follow a template from someone who can build a model from scratch when the situation demands it.
- 15+ years building financial models across banking, tech, and manufacturing sectors
- Developed valuation frameworks for 40+ Series A through Series C funding rounds
- Taught financial modeling workshops across Australia and Southeast Asia since 2017
- Specialization in scenario planning and sensitivity analysis for uncertain markets
How sylvoremita Evolved
First Structured Program
Launched our first eight-week course focused on startup financial modeling. Started with twelve students in a shared workspace in Canberra. Half were founders, half were analysts trying to move into finance roles.
Industry-Specific Modules
Expanded curriculum to include specialized tracks for SaaS, e-commerce, and manufacturing businesses. Each sector has different modeling challenges—generic templates don't cut it.
Remote Learning Transition
Moved to online instruction during lockdowns and discovered it actually worked better. Students could review complex sections at their own pace. We kept the format after restrictions lifted.
Advanced Scenario Planning
Added dedicated modules on modeling uncertainty—something that became critical post-2020. Techniques for building models that remain useful when your assumptions are wrong.
Continuing Evolution
Currently developing new material on modeling AI-driven businesses and incorporating machine learning forecasts into traditional financial models. The fundamentals stay the same, but applications keep changing.
Finding What Fits Your Situation
People come to financial modeling from different starting points. Here's how to figure out which approach makes sense for where you are now.
Never Built a Model Before?
Start with foundational concepts—understanding financial statements, how businesses generate cash, basic Excel mechanics. Our beginner track assumes zero prior knowledge and builds from there.
Have Finance Background?
You probably know the theory. What you might need is practice building models from scratch under time pressure, plus techniques for stress-testing assumptions when data is uncertain.
Working on Specific Project?
Sometimes you need targeted help rather than a full course. We offer project-based sessions where you work on your actual business model with instructor guidance on methodology.
Managing a Finance Team?
Team training focuses on standardizing modeling practices, quality control frameworks, and documentation that lets multiple people work on the same model without creating chaos.
Next Programs Start September 2025
Registration opens in July. If you want details about curriculum structure or have questions about which track fits your background, email us directly.
Get Program Information