Customer moment: John Truong on how Attivo helps startups manage their cash with Mercury

Feature: Mercury for Accountants

Accounting Partner: Attivo



Senior Accounting Manager: John Truong

Early-stage founders often leave money and efficiency on the table due to outdated financial tools and oversight. Attivo partners with Mercury to pair their strategic accounting guidance with a modern banking platform to optimize cash management and streamline operations. 

Can you describe what Attivo provides?



Attivo specializes in fractional CFO and accounting services for venture-backed startups. We work closely with founders from their earliest stages — helping them raise capital, build out business models, operationalize for scale, and ultimately, set themselves up for success. Our client services span everything from day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping to more strategic guidance like cash management and fundraising support.

What’s one of the biggest challenges among early-stage companies?



The biggest opportunity I’m seeing is in how early-stage companies manage their cash. When a founder raises their first check, especially if it’s a large round, they’re often so focused on building that they may not realize they can take advantage of high interest bearing accounts. Sometimes we see millions of dollars sitting in non-interest-bearing checking accounts — essentially leaving enough money on the table to hire an entire headcount. 

Beyond high-yield accounts, what other advice do you have when it comes to receiving investments? 

I always say it’s not about taking risks, but about ensuring investor money is protected and put to use wisely. A good cash and treasury management policy can prevent missteps and signal fiscal responsibility to investors.

Why does Attivo choose and recommend Mercury? 

Mercury’s Treasury options are straightforward and easy to explain and pitch to clients. There’s no decision paralysis. It’s a good rate, and clients immediately see the value. Founders often need to rely on Attivo just to complete basic tasks with traditional banks and navigate their platforms, but Mercury’s intuitive interface empowers founders to self-serve. That self-sufficiency translates into time saved and smoother operations for everyone involved.

For Attivo and our clients, Mercury feels like it was built for us. The application process is quick and fully digital, unlike some legacy banks that still rely on PDF forms and weeks of back-and-forth. Founders can also issue cards, pay bills, and invoice clients directly through the Mercury platform, without any hidden fees.

Plus, it integrates seamlessly with the rest of their software stack, including accounting software, making it easy for our team to support them. Mercury’s banking platform provides a convenient and robust solution as part of the treasury management strategy for early stage founders. 

What’s been your experience as a Mercury for Accountants partner?


The partnership between Mercury and Attivo goes beyond the platform itself. As part of Mercury’s partner program, Attivo receives dedicated support for both the firm and the clients we refer, as well as welcome bonuses that we pass along to our clients. That strong relationship makes it even easier to recommend Mercury as an extraordinary banking product. We typically advise founders to open at least two accounts for diversification, and Mercury is consistently on the shortlist. It’s an easy sell.

Ultimately, the collaboration helps Attivo deliver more value with less overhead. Our clients benefit from modern banking infrastructure that works for them — not against them — and Attivo gets to focus on strategic growth support rather than untangling outdated processes. 

If you’re looking to streamline your clients’ finances, boost your firm’s productivity, and access dedicated support and partner perks, check out Mercury for Accountants. You can also test out the Mercury platform for yourself and apply for an account in under 10 minutes.