Give Me Your Tongue
B2 Upper IntermediateB2 · Module 06Class 24

B2 · Module 06 · Class 24 — The Numbers in Full

Narrative Scene

The Numbers in Full

It is the end of Meridian's first full quarter post-Series C. Brian has the floor for 25 minutes at the board session. He must present the quarterly data review — not just Germany, but all three expansion markets: Germany, Mexico, and Singapore.

 

Mexico is being run remotely by a local partner, Rafael. Singapore is Aisha's territory. Brian must synthesise three different data sets into a single coherent story: what the numbers show, what they mean, and what the board should do next.

 

"Make it readable," James told him. "Helena wants to see the trends. Raymond Tan wants to see Singapore. The numbers have to do the talking — your job is to help them."

Quick Reference: Language for Data and Numbers

Use this reference table throughout the consolidation activities and roleplay.

 

Language

Function

Class introduced

rose / fell / surged / plateaued

Describe direction of change

C21

rose sharply / fell marginally / recovered steadily

Add rate of change (adverb)

C21

rose by X% / rose from X to Y / rose threefold

Quantify the change precisely

C21

this can be attributed to / the data suggest

Interpret a trend or number

C21

approximately / in the region of / broadly in line

Hedge a figure

C21

project / forecast / anticipate / estimate

Talk about future numbers

C22

is projected to / is expected to / is set to

Passive forward-looking structures

C22

in the base case / in an upside scenario

Name a scenario

C22

conservatively / prudently / realistically

Signal approach to modelling

C22

what happens to the model if...

Stress-test an assumption

C22

ARR / CAC / LTV / NRR / churn / pipeline coverage

Core KPI vocabulary

C23

on track to / at risk of / running below target

Performance status language

C23

compared with / relative to / against the benchmark

Benchmarking language

C23

the shortfall is attributable to / reflects

Explain over- or under-performance

C23

Quarterly Data Review (Board Letter, Extract)

Brian has written a briefing letter to accompany the slide deck. Read it and complete the activities below.

 

MERIDIAN TECHNOLOGIES

Q1 2026 Expansion Markets — Quarterly Data Review

To: Board of Directors | From: Brian Okafor, Director of Strategic Partnerships

Date: 30 May 2026

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

 

This letter summarises Q1 performance across our three expansion markets.

Detailed data is contained in the accompanying slide deck.

 

1. UNITED KINGDOM (Baseline)

 

UK ARR reached GBP 4.2M at quarter-end, representing a 14% uplift on Q4 2025.

Growth has moderated from the 22% rate seen in the prior two quarters, a trend

attributable primarily to a reduction in new logo activity as the sales team was

partially redeployed to support Germany launch preparation. NRR remains strong at

114%, indicating that existing customers are expanding their spend. Churn held at

0.7% monthly — below our 1.0% ceiling and broadly in line with the prior quarter.

 

2. GERMANY (Launch Phase)

 

Germany is on track for its first signed deal in Q3. The qualified pipeline stands at

GBP 9.4M TCV — 34x coverage against the Year 1 ARR target. KMT Logistics (Klaus

Brandt, Munich) has progressed to contract review stage; we anticipate signature by

end of June, subject to final legal review. Two further prospects have requested

formal proposals following the Munich event.

 

ARR is projected to reach GBP 85,000 by year-end if the KMT deal closes on time,

representing a positive contribution in Year 1 even under conservative assumptions.

In the base case (excluding KMT), Year 1 ARR is estimated at GBP 252,000–294,000.

 

3. MEXICO (Partner-Led)

 

Rafael's team has onboarded two customers in Q1, generating MRR of GBP 6,200.

Annualised, this represents GBP 74,400 ARR — marginally below the GBP 80,000

Year 1 target. The shortfall reflects a slower-than-expected regulatory approval

process for one enterprise prospect. Pipeline coverage stands at 5.8x. We expect

Mexico to return to plan trajectory in Q2 once the regulatory delay clears.

 

4. SINGAPORE (Direct)

 

Aisha's Singapore operation has exceeded Q1 targets. Two enterprise deals have been

signed, generating MRR of GBP 11,800 (vs. target of GBP 9,500). The outperformance

reflects the DataBridge referral network effect, which delivered one warm introduction

that converted within six weeks — significantly faster than the modelled 4-month cycle.

ARR is set to reach GBP 185,000 by year-end in the base case; in an upside scenario,

a third enterprise deal (currently in negotiation) could push this to GBP 230,000.

 

SUMMARY

 

Three markets are operational. One (Singapore) is ahead of target; one (UK) is

growing steadily at a moderated rate; one (Mexico) is marginally behind but

recovering; one (Germany) is in launch phase with a strong pipeline. Taken together,

total expansion market ARR is projected to exceed GBP 550,000 by year-end.

 

Brian Okafor

 

Analysis Questions

•  Identify four examples of trend language from Section 1 of Module 6 (Class 21) in this letter.

•  Find three forecasting structures from Class 22 and explain the degree of confidence each signals.


✏️

Practice Exercises

3 questions

New exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.

Fill in the Blank · 1 of 3

'Singapore outperformed. We made more money than expected.' → [register/precision] Singapore ARR ___ the Year 1 target by 12%, driven by two additional DataBridge referral conversions.

Fill in the Blank · 2 of 3

'The shortfall is because of a regulatory delay.' → The shortfall is ___ a regulatory delay in the enterprise procurement cycle.

Fill in the Blank · 3 of 3

'Mexico churn might possibly could improve in Q2.' → Mexico churn ___ improve in Q2 as pipeline matures.

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← B2 · Module 06 · Class 23 — Measuring What Matters
B2 · Module 07 · Class 25 — Reading the Room →