Artificial Intelligence in Corporate Finance - Transforming Financial Strategies for Startups: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing corporate finance by enabling startups to overcome traditional financial challenges and achieve sustainable growth. This study systematically reviews AI's transformative potential, highlighting its applications in financial decision-making, process automation, fraud detection, and predictive analytics. Drawing from 50 peer-reviewed articles, the review highlights how AI technologies like machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive modelling enhance financial efficiency, mitigate risks, and enable strategic innovation for startups. While AI-driven financial strategies reduce costs, improve cash flow accuracy, and foster ESG compliance, barriers such as high implementation costs, skill gaps, and integration challenges persist. The findings also reveal significant research gaps, including the need for scalable AI tools tailored to startups and ethical frameworks to mitigate biases in financial models. By addressing these issues, this study provides actionable insights for leveraging AI to transform financial operations, empowering startups to thrive in a competitive digital economy.