AI in Excel often outperforms dedicated BI tools in scenarios that require quick, personalized, and ad-hoc analysis directly within a familiar environment, especially when the final output is a financial model or a high-level summary.

Mastering the Power Query M language is the key to unlocking true data automation in Excel, allowing you to go beyond the graphical user interface (GUI) and perform sophisticated, dynamic data transformations.

For startups, a financial model is more than a budget; it's a dynamic tool for raising capital, testing pricing, and managing runway. Given the high-stakes environment, efficiency, accuracy, and clarity are non-negotiable.