Shortcut
AI-powered Excel add-in that builds DCF, LBO, and three-statement financial models from natural language instructions, completing complex spreadsheet tasks with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
Visit Website ↗What is Shortcut
Shortcut (tryshortcut.ai) is an agentic AI Excel add-in developed by Fundamental Research Labs, a team with an MIT background. It's not just a helper that fills in formulas, but a tool that can autonomously complete entire complex spreadsheet tasks from a single natural language instruction, including building DCF (discounted cash flow), LBO (leveraged buyout), and three-statement financial models. Native Excel compatibility ensures seamless integration with your existing workflow.
Its popularity stems from its impressive performance: scoring over 80% on Excel World Championship problems and outpacing humans by approximately ten times. This isn't just marketing hype, but a measurable, benchmarked performance. For those who spend their days working on financial models, valuations, and budgeting, an Excel agent that understands your needs and builds models for you can save hours of manual work, compressing it into mere minutes.
Key Features and Use Cases
Core features include autonomous construction of financial models from natural language instructions, completion of complex spreadsheet tasks, and native Excel compatibility. Positioned as a 'self-sufficient Excel agent,' it emphasizes doing the work for you, rather than just providing suggestions. The most suitable scenarios for Shortcut include financial analysts, investment bankers, private equity professionals, corporate FP&A teams, and anyone frequently building or maintaining financial models. For these users, the time saved by Shortcut is invaluable. However, it's crucial to review the assumptions and logic behind AI-built models, as professional judgment remains your responsibility.
Key Features
- Agentic AI Excel add-in that autonomously completes spreadsheet tasks
- Builds DCF, LBO, and three-statement financial models from natural language instructions
- Native Excel compatibility for seamless integration
- Scored over 80% on Excel World Championship problems
- Outpaces human performance by approximately ten times
Pros
- Measurable performance with benchmarked results, not just empty claims
- Saves hours of manual work by autonomously building models
- Native Excel compatibility ensures easy integration into existing workflows
Cons
- Assumptions and formulas in financial models still require thorough review
- Professional judgment is necessary; don't blindly accept valuation results
- Advanced features and usage require a paid subscription
Use Cases
- Financial analysts quickly building valuation models
- Investment bankers and private equity professionals creating DCF and LBO models
- FP&A teams doing budgeting and three-statement forecasting
- Anyone frequently maintaining financial models can significantly speed up their work
Editor's Note
Shortcut's ability to build DCF and LBO models from natural language instructions, its performance in the Excel World Championship, and its speed advantage over humans are all backed by measurable benchmarks, not just claims. For those manually building financial models daily, this agentic speedup is genuinely impactful. However, models require assumptions and judgments, so it's crucial to review AI-built models carefully. We give it 4.3 out of 5.
FAQ
How does Shortcut differ from other Excel AI assistants?
Most tools provide suggestions or fill in formulas for you to complete manually. Shortcut is agentic, building entire financial models (like DCF, LBO, and three-statement models) from a single natural language instruction, with native Excel compatibility and output you can use directly.
Can I use the financial models built by Shortcut directly?
While Shortcut significantly speeds up model building, financial models involve assumptions and judgments. It's essential to review each assumption and logical step, rather than blindly accepting the valuation results. The tool accelerates manual work, but professional judgment remains your responsibility.