Under CF9, I'm converting SVGs to PNGs using the Batik (1.7) transcoder. The SVGs contain text using non-standard fonts which I've installed under Windows on the server, but which are being replaced with fallback system fonts during the Batik conversion. I've tried both TTF and OTF fonts and the suggestions here: http://webmonkeyswithlaserbeams.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/custom-fonts-in-coldfusion/. Embedding the fonts in the SVGs isn't a viable option due to parsing performance problems in another area of the application.
You have to embed the svg font definations inside your svg. There is no other way.