News

Talisman Wins "Best New Startup" at the 2024 TWIF Awards

We’re thrilled to announce that Talisman has been named "Best New Startup" at the 2024 TWIF Awards. Our team traveled to New York City this December to accept this incredible honor and celebrate what we’re building for the accounting community. This recognition inspires us as we look ahead to an exciting 2025.

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Talisman platform champions finance as a human + AI collaboration (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Talisman, founded in 2021, addresses staffing challenges in accounting with an AI-powered platform automating tasks like transaction categorization and reconciliation. It enables firms to focus on advisory services, serving over 150 clients. Recognized for innovation, Talisman plans a major February launch to expand its impact.

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Billing Calendar: Instantly stay on top of every renewal

The Billing Calendar frees up your time from repetitive tasks by automatically pulling all the information about your subscriptions’ billing dates in one place. Whether you’re auditing your past expenses or forecasting for the future, you can now get a complete view of every transaction down to the exact day it occurs.

Tips

Selecting the Right Tools for Your Startup: A Look Inside Talisman's Toolset

With hundreds of different SaaS tools, frameworks, and services to choose from, it can be tricky to choose the right technologies for your startup’s tech stack. There are several factors to consider, but the main ones should be user-friendliness, scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

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Bringing Tech to Life: The Art of Infusing Personality into Products

Yes, even products have personality, and we’re talking about the set of qualities that people use to describe a specific product or software. You may have heard of Jony Ive, the genius behind Apple’s amazing tech products. According to Ive, Apple’s former Chief Design Officer, products should have a character, a soul. It’s not only about how it looks but also how it feels and how it fits into consumers’ lives.

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Unmasking Overspending: Integrating SaaS in Year-End Budgeting for Efficiency

One aspect that you should particularly look into when planning your annual budget is your SaaS spend. If you don’t have any idea how much you’re spending every month to cover all your software subscriptions, it’s high time to do a thorough SaaS audit because you may be surprised just how much unnecessary SaaS spend has been flying under the radar.

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Mastering the Startup Battlefield: Applying "The Art of War" Principles to Talisman's Journey

You may have heard of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, a classic work written in ancient China during the 5th century BCE. It was meant to be a military treatise but has now become a timeless guide to leadership and strategic progress. The principles of this book can help you achieve success in many areas of life. In the world of startup, which is essentially a challenging battlefield, these strategic principles can also come in handy.

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Leveling Up User Onboarding: Lessons from Video Game Design for Software Companies

Research shows that 80% of users will delete an app if they can’t quickly figure out how to use it. That’s a staggering statistic, and this is where user onboarding enters the picture.

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The Power of Words: Unlocking Success with Effective Copywriting in Your Product

Copywriting is a powerful tool to connect with your audience and compel them to take action. The right words can influence consumer decisions and make a lasting impact. But is there a specific formula or a one-size-fits-all approach to creating a powerful copy?

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Different Ways to Extend your Startups Runway

Startup runway refers to how long your startup can operate before it runs out of cash. It’s essentially a measure of your startup’s lifeline, and this metric can signal the likelihood of your company’s success or failure. Startups with longer runway are more likely to keep steady and succeed while those with shorter runway may need to raise additional funding, get acquired, or pivot to a different business model or strategy.

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The CEO of Me: How We’ve All Built a Startup Just By Growing Up

Like how we grow and develop as human beings, a business also goes through the same process of growth, learning, and maturity. As long as a business lives, it will experience changes, difficulties, setbacks, and even self-discovery. Like how we strive to become the best versions of ourselves, growing a business is also about helping it achieve its most refined version, its full potential.

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Best ways to work with fractional IT Resource

Businesses, especially startups, need to manage their runway well to operate at a high level of efficiency and productivity. One of the best ways to do that is fractional staffing, particularly Fractional IT Resource.

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Thriving as a Lean Startup: Mastering Multiple Roles with a Small Team

A lean startup is all about doing more with less. It’s avoiding wasteful practices by choosing more efficient and productive ways to move forward. Before investing a lot of resources in an idea, startups should validate the product as they go and pivot accordingly if things don’t go as planned.

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Mental Health in a Remote Startup: Strategies for Success

While remote work brings so much convenience and flexibility, especially in the startup culture, it does have its fair share of challenges that can potentially affect employees’ mental health. Feelings of isolation, anxiety, and social disconnection can creep in, and these are some of the things that startup leaders should pay attention to before it turns into a bigger problem for your remote operation.

News

Google Domains Ends

Google Domains is a domain registration and management service launched by Google in 2015. Users loved its well-designed interface and single single sign-on capabilities. It’s also been more affordable as compared to other domain registrars. Unfortunately, Google Domains is shutting down and selling its assets to the popular website builder Squarespace.

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The Power of Listening: A Catalyst for Personal and Business Growth

Listening a powerful leadership tool. It channels understanding and can even be a catalyst for innovation and transformation within a company. In this article, let’s explore the real power of listening and how it develops trust, respect, and understanding in business and in life.

Tips

How Talisman Turned Dev Processes into Operational Efficiency

The startup environment nowadays calls for agile methodologies and forward-thinking solutions. Even engineering ticketing processes can translate into overall operational efficiency. Since startups need to overcome limited resources, intense competition, and a dynamic business landscape, process optimization is more crucial than ever.

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Bridging the Gap: How Communication Between IT, Finance, and Operations Defines Success

Finance talks about cash flow, balance sheets, and cost centers; the IT speaks of data security and IT infrastructure; while the operations focuses on lead times and inventory turns. All have crucial functions, but having everyone on the same page and breaking down communication barriers can take your business to the next level.

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Why Your SMB Needs a CRM for Software Management

Gone are the days when SMBs had no other option but to rely on manual spreadsheets and physical record-keeping. The rise of the SaaS era have made various software tools easily accessible. Tools like Microsoft Excel and QuickBooks became the buzzwords, and CRM tools were born.

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The Rise of SaaS Complexity in Modern Business

SaaS (Software as a Service) has transformed the modern business landscape. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) now have a chance to survive and thrive with the rise and accessibility of various SaaS solutions across any industry.

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Designing User-Centered Interfaces: Learning from Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams is a German industrial designer who designed over 500 products at Braun, from desk fans to radios to coffee makers. Throughout his journey as a designer, his default question has been, “Is my design a good design?”.

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Visibility Is Clarity: Navigating the Growing Software Stack

How can small and medium-sized businesses manage their growing software stack? How can they ensure that their SaaS investments are generating returns? The answer is clarity and visibility.

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Marching to Success: What a Marching Band Taught Me About Building a Startup

I spent the day shadowing the Lake Highlands High School Marching Band and the parallels between the world of marching bands and my journey in helping build Talisman, were striking. Here are the key takeaways I found that bridge the gap between these seemingly contrasting professions.

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A Guide to Buying Software: Design Tools

Design tools can help you develop visual ideas, but the exact tool you need depends on the type of designer you are. You could be a graphic designer, UX designer, web designer, or even product designer. There are different tools for different jobs, but there are shared principles in terms of choosing the designer tool you should add to your arsenal. In this article, let’s discuss what design tools are, their common features, and how to choose the design tools that match your needs.

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SSO Fees & Taxes: What is it and am I paying for it?

A lot of SaaS customers are protesting against SSO fees and taxes and for good reason. Let’s talk about SSO, what it does, and what exactly the pricing looks like to access SSO features nowadays.

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8 Strategic Ways to Increase Your Runway

Companies need to manage their finances properly and plan investments wisely. The goal is to generate enough cash flow to sustain the operations and invest in the key areas necessary for growth and development. To do that, you need to pay attention to the things that are harming your company’s runway-- a.k.a. inefficient or unnecessary spending.

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SaaS Purchase Guide to Cost vs. Quality: Should You Buy the Quick Solution?

SaaS tools are not made equal. The subscription rate ranges from negligible to downright hefty. But does ‘more expensive’ really mean ‘better’? Or should you just go for the cheapest alternative?

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SaaS Management - Gartner Market Guide for Future Leaders | Talisman's Review

Are you looking to understand the current state of SaaS Management Platforms and their relevance in the future? This "SaaS Management - Gartner Market Guide for Future Leaders" review from Talisman will give you a comprehensive look at the latest trends and insights in this rapidly evolving landscape.

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5 Best Tips for Optimizing Your Tech Stack (for someone who doesn’t have an IT background)

Let’s explore the best ways to optimize your tech stack even if you don’t have an IT background.

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From Chaos to Control: How SaaS Management Platforms Streamline Your Workflow

If you don’t know how many SaaS tools your company is subscribed to and how much you’re actually spending for all of these subscriptions, you could be in deep trouble. SaaS management is the key to bringing order to chaos. It’s the foundation of your tech stack, and in this article, we will enumerate all the ways a SaaS management platform can help you stay on top of your software subscriptions and overall workflow.

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Unlocking Productivity: How Optimizing Access to Software Boosts Employee Performance

In this article, let’s explore all the benefits of simplifying software access and optimizing SaaS management in your business.

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How To Understand What Software is Effective for Your Business and What Isn't

In today’s digital age, businesses heavily rely on software applications to make their business operations and day-to-day functioning faster and more efficient. However, if you don’t carefully evaluate or build your tech stack, the results will be the total opposite of efficiency.

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Talisman’s Journey: The Founding Story and Aspirational Vision

In the Founders Unfound podcast hosted by Dan Kihanya, Talisman’s CEO Chiko Chingaya shares the untold story of how Talisman came to be and how Talisman charts its course for long-term success.

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SaaS Management Guide: Why You Should Avoid Rushing Your SaaS Purchases

We understand where companies are coming from. So, before we discuss all the reasons companies should avoid rushing SaaS purchases, it makes sense to first understand why companies tend to scurry in the first place.

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The Dangers of Free Trial Software

These days, free trials seem to be mandatory for anything sold online, especially in terms of software products. And they do seem like a great bargain. In fact, around 80% of software companies provide free trials before subscription, but what are the possible implications or even the dangers of signing up for free trials?

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Why It's More Important Than Ever to Have a Clear Understanding of Your Subscription Spend

The world’s SaaS use is ever-increasing, but companies usually don’t have the bandwidth to monitor, assess, and optimize their SaaS subscriptions to maximize efficiency. Having a clear understanding of your subscription spend is becoming more important than ever.

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A Guide to Buying Software: Payroll & HR Tools (HCM)

A Payroll and HR system is virtually one of the most crucial purchases an organization can make. Choosing the right Human Capital Management (HCM) technology helps your HR team effectively recruit, onboard, manage, pay, and retain talent. It can support your company’s growth, boost productivity, and enhance employee experience. In this guide, let’s talk about the importance of Payroll and HR tools and how to choose one that matches your operational needs and organizational goals.

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A Guide To Buying Software: Project Management Tools

A Guide To Buying Project Management Tools

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Cost-Reduction Exercises for SaaS: A Guide to Extending Your Runway

In this guide, we'll explore what cost-reduction exercises are, why they're important for SaaS management, and how you can implement them to save on your SaaS expenses.

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A Guide To Buying Software: Internal Communication Tools

An internal communication (IC) tool is more than just a megaphone for announcements. Communication can make or break your overall internal operations, and to ensure effective communication, you need to choose the most efficient communication method for your team. In this article, we’ll talk about how to eliminate communication challenges using the right internal communication technology and how to choose the right IC tool that can promote collaboration, transparency, and efficiency.

Tips

Shadow IT: How Talisman Helps Businesses Track SaaS Usage

Is your business looking for a solution to manage and track Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) usage to uncover Shadow IT and avoid compliance risks? If so, you know it can be a challenging task. When a team member uses unapproved SaaS applications, it leads to unauthorized access and usage of the company's data. Those activities can cause problems like system failures and cybersecurity risks - resulting in out-of-compliance conditions. Read on to learn more about how Talisman helps you solve your shadow IT issues!

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SaaS Subscription Management: How Talisman Helps Businesses Manage and Save

Protect your runway and reduce financial risk with SaaS subscription management. Read our guide and discover how Talisman helps your business!

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SaaS Overload: How Redundancies are Bleeding Your Startup Dry

Whether you’re a founder just starting out or a leader in an already established organization, we know you've got a lot on your plate. Between raising funds, developing products, and finding the right talent, it's easy to lose…

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SaaS Subscription Management

Are you struggling to keep up with your SaaS subscriptions and applications? If so, you're not alone. So how can you master SaaS management and get ahead of the curve?

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What is Shadow IT?

Have you ever used a software or application that's not approved by your company's IT department? If you have, then you've encountered shadow IT. Simply put, it's the use of software, applications, and services that are not approved or supported by your company's IT department. In the era of software-as-a-service (SaaS), the risks of shadow IT are more significant than ever. When employees use unapproved SaaS applications for any reason, there are serious risks to your business.

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What is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?

The mobile device market is growing at an unprecedented rate. With companies moving towards remote work, and more employees using mobile devices for work, it's essential for businesses to have a way to manage and…

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What is SOC2 compliance and why does it matter?

If you're a small or medium-sized business with remote employees, then SOC2 compliance should be on your radar. In a nutshell, SOC2 (Service Organization Compliance 2) is a set of standards that govern how businesses protect…

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What is a Managed Serivce Provider (MSP)?

If you are reading this, you have likely considered using MSPs at some point. Typically it’s because your company is growing and is running into issues managing the IT infrastructure needed to support this growth.

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The hidden cost of SaaS: How companies end up spending too much

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a rapidly growing industry, with businesses relying on tools like Slack and Salesforce for their day-to-day operations. According to Gartner, the public cloud services market is expected to grow 20% this year to a total of $494.7 billion. But, did you know that a significant portion of that spend goes to waste due to hidden costs?

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What is IT support?

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably done at least one of these things: Give new employees access to multiple software applications they need to get their job done by going in manually to each app…

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People Operations

People Operations teams, widely referred to as “People Ops,” are responsible for a lot at an early-stage company— namely, maintaining the company culture and keeping employees engaged

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Why Traditional Excel Sheets No Longer Cut It for Expense Tracking

Let’s talk about why traditional Excel sheets may no longer be the best option in terms of software expense tracking and management.