What happens when a finance powerhouse meets the right technology? For Starling CS, a firm that fuels business growth across sectors through capital and strategic services, the result was transformational. By leveraging Odoo, Starling didn’t just implement a software, they reinvented the way 17 companies run, collaborate, and grow.
Founded in May 2022, Starling CS acts as the umbrella for a diverse portfolio of companies spanning sectors like solar energy, art, financial services, and more. The company provides capital (both equity and debt) to businesses and works closely with founders, entrepreneurs, and legacy operations to drive efficiency, sustainability, and long-term growth.
Jacqueline Gleason, co-founder and partner, runs the operations and IT infrastructure. With her extensive background in software implementation, she and her business partner, who manages the financial side, have helped scale a shared vision: creating a unified infrastructure that brings visibility, agility, and control across all ventures.
"We enjoy making things work better and bringing capital to fuel growth. When we started Starling, we knew the companies needed the same operational backbone, even if they were in totally different industries."
The Challenge: Disconnected Systems and Financial Blind Spots
Prior to Odoo, Jacqueline and her team struggled to find an ERP solution that could support multiple entities with unique access permissions while rolling up consolidated financials. The initial workaround? Standardizing processes on Excel, a method that quickly hit its limit across eight companies.
They explored tools through Gartner, conducted interviews, and considered custom development, but none of the platforms, including Microsoft Power BI and Capsule CRM, offered the granular visibility and scalability they needed.
"No one could separate company access rights. I wanted to see everything, but only what I was allowed to see, and I wanted others to see just their piece. No one could do that... until Odoo."
A Total Shift in Operations
Jacqueline first discovered Odoo through an NPR advertisement promoting “open-source ERP.” That night, she researched it, presented a business case, and convinced her partner to invest early. By fall 2022, they had gone live with Accounting and a custom-built Deal Workbook for three companies.
Five quarters later, they’ve onboarded 17 companies and 24 Odoo users. Nearly 50 employees across all entities have benefited, either directly or indirectly, from this transformation.
"My business partner said, ‘This is the best business decision I’ve ever been a part of in my life.’ It changed everything."
Here’s what Odoo has revolutionized at Starling CS:
Financial Accuracy & Speed: Before Odoo, financials lagged by a full quarter, and often missed the mark. They relied on a bookkeeper once a quarter and struggled with late tax filings and reporting inconsistencies.
Now?
- All financials are accurate and real-time.
- Quarterly invoicing went from weeks of syncing spreadsheets to one afternoon.
In one case, an acquisition was onboarded in just six days, a process that used to take years.
“We used to get December financials in March, and they were still wrong. Now, everything’s clean, accessible, and fast. I can run reports on analytic accounts in minutes and show exactly where money was made, or lost.”
Custom-Built Solutions That Scale: Their Deal Workbook, developed over 18 months with Odoo’s development team, manages complex loan servicing, CRM functions, and interest billing; all under one roof. They phased out Capsule CRM and replaced it with a fully tailored solution inside Odoo.
Sector-Specific Project Management: For AC Power, their solar consulting company, Odoo’s Project module changed everything:
- Tasks, deadlines, and reporting went from scattered chats to centralized, timestamped workflows.
- Leads from CRM now flow directly into Project, following formal policies and procedures.
- Consolidation and branch structure features keep financials integrated and streamlined.
Tailored Inventory for the Art Business: They customized Inventory by using Odoo Studio to track artworks by artist, year, medium, and storage location. This niche use case proves Odoo’s flexibility in non-traditional industries.
Documentation & Communication: Jacqueline uses Knowledge and Discuss extensively, building internal documentation and replacing Slack/Teams with streamlined notifications. Even her partner, who once resisted tech, now adds notes into the system himself.
“I’ve never seen ERP used the way it’s supposed to be used: your entire business in one open system. That’s what Odoo has done for us”.
What’s Next for Starling CS?
Starling is gearing up for even more expansion, both in terms of the companies it supports and how it uses Odoo. They plan to:
- Upgrade to Odoo 18 to unlock AI-powered features like auto-generated credit memos.
- Optimize their use of Documents, Dashboards, and Sign with improved automation.
- Offer Odoo management services to other entrepreneurs in their network.
They’re even helping a colleague integrate Odoo’s website builder, employee module, and CRM to track performance in remote teams, proving that the suite can fit almost any business model.
"Every time someone says, ‘I wish we could do this,’ I say, ‘Hold on.’ There’s never a no. There’s always a way with Odoo."
If you're still juggling Excel sheets, outdated tools, or rigid legacy systems, consider Starling CS’s journey your wake-up call. “I tell people: If you’re selling something and making money, you can use Odoo. It doesn’t matter what business you’re in. And it won’t break the bank.”
No matter your industry or size, Odoo gives you the tools, and the power, to run better. Start small. Scale smart. Think like Starling!
