Toptal Blog

The Toptal Blog is the top hub for developers, designers, management consultants, executives, and entrepreneurs, featuring key technology updates, tutorials, freelancer resources, and management insights.

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Toptal core team members share their experience, expertise, and perspectives on the Toptal Edge Blog

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Estimating WACC for Private Company Valuation: A Tutorial

The discount rate is a critical input in any discounted cash flow valuation analysis. How does an analyst estimate a reasonable discount rate for a private company that has no publicly traded debt or equity?

This article focuses on best practices for estimation of the WACC in the context of a private company valuation. The discussion begins with an overview of the WACC, background on the components of the WACC, methods to estimate the WACC components for private companies, and an example of how to apply this framework to estimate a privately-held building materials company.

16-minute readContinue Reading
David Turney

David Turney

David specializes in managing complex/unique projects for C-Suite executives at Fortune 500 companies. He has managed transactions > $1.5Bn.

How to Conduct an Effective Design Sprint

A design sprint is a methodology used to validate ideas through design, prototyping, user testing, and collaboration in only five days, offering a more structured, effective approach to creative thinking.

9-minute readContinue Reading
Ondřej Dostál

Ondřej Dostál

For the past five years, Ondřej has worked as a designer, specializing in helping companies with their UX and UI designs, mostly mobile.

Who Knew Adobe CC Could Wireframe?

Wireframing is a major step in designing any user interface, whether a website, application, or software product. Apps in the Adobe CC suite can be used to create wireframes for an efficient workflow.

16-minute readContinue Reading
Ivana Miličić

Ivana Miličić

Ivana is a visual designer with over 15 years of experience, an Adobe Certified Instructor, and Algebra University College Asst. Lecturer.

Product Strategy: A Guide to Core Concepts and Processes

In this age of lean startups, designers often find themselves in stretch roles where they are in charge not only of a product’s design but also of coming up with the type of product to build.

8-minute readContinue Reading
Tanya Junell

Tanya Junell

Tanya is a product design and UX strategist bringing human-centered design solutions to high-growth edtech, lifestyle, and financial brands.

Advanced Financial Modeling Best Practices: Hacks for Intelligent, Error-free Modeling

From abstract spreadsheets to real-world application, financial models have become an inextricable part of business life and an indispensable part of every company’s toolkit. But irrespective of its ubiquitousness as a productivity and decision-making tool, many out there still have a love-hate relationship with it.

Management consultant Alberto Bazzana authors a comprehensive “how-to guide,” for both the novices and experts among us, detailing Wall Street’s best practices for intelligent, effective, and error-free financial modeling.

17-minute readContinue Reading
Alberto Bazzana

Alberto Bazzana

Albert is a seasoned PE executive with over $1Bn in trasactions. Prior to this he led consulting engagements across nine countries.

Creating Server-side Rendered Vue.js Apps Using Nuxt.js

When using a JavaScript framework, your browser doesn’t receive a complete page to display. Instead it gets a bunch of pieces and instructions of how to put them all together. It takes a substantial amount of time to put all this information together before your browser actually has something to display.

In this article, Toptal Freelance Front-end Engineer Ben Jones introduces us to Nuxt.js, a server-side rendering library for Vue.js, inspired by the popular Next.js for React.js.

21-minute readContinue Reading
Ben Jones

Ben Jones

Ben is a skilled developer focused on user outcomes, with experience in everything from CAD to VBA to web tech to neural networks.

Mastering Sustainable Startup Growth and Finding Your Relevant KPIs

To unlock growth in a company, you must first find the KPI that is core towards increasing company value. More effective knowledge of growth comes from a deeper understanding of the characteristics of a “perfect client,” the trends between user cohorts, and finding the tipping point that solidifies retention and engagement.

17-minute readContinue Reading
Erik Stettler

Erik Stettler

Erik is a co-founder of a global venture capital fund that has invested in 50 startups (raising more than $500 million) and has realized six exits. He serves as Toptal’s Chief Economist and holds an MBA from Harvard.

Three Healthcare Technology Innovations: Driving Better Outcomes and Lower Costs

Technology innovations stand to benefit patients and the healthcare system in two dramatic ways. Already several examples of such innovation are driving improved patient outcomes while simultaneously reducing the cost to deliver care. In this article, we explore three diverse examples, each poised to impact patients, providers and payers.

12-minute readContinue Reading
Vijay Shrinivas

Vijay Shrinivas

Vijay helps Toptal enterprise clients solve their digital product challenges, with expertise from Cap Gemini and Cognizant.

Landing Page Design: Building the Ultimate Landing Page

The best landing pages increase conversions and help brands sell more. But what makes great landing page design? Read and uncover valuable insights for any business looking for a world-class landing page.

8-minute readContinue Reading
László Monda

László Monda

László is a versatile full stack developer experienced in a wide range of languages and frameworks with a system-wide understanding.

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