Tag Archives: venture capitalist

Entrepreneurship

Venture Capital Firms Bring in Money

Todd Crosland EntrepreneurshipVenture Capital firms have been in existence for years, yet they do not always bring in as much money as they would hope. This year, however, is different. Since 2016 began, these types of firms have been able to collect money at a rate greater than they have in fifteen years. More surprisingly, they are managing this feat even as the valuation of many startups begins to drop. Even as ‘unicorn’ startups become less enchanting in Venture Capital, investors are still reaping rewards.

Venture Capital firms have been able to raise over ten billion dollars since the beginning of the new year, at an astonishing rate. It turns out, while investments in startups are slowing, investments in Venture Capital firms are not. Of course, this was predicted last year. When polled, the majority investors in these funds announced that they would continue to match or increase the amount of money they were giving to firms. The firms, however, are the reason startups are having more trouble raising money.

Why is this, exactly? Well, IPOs did not have a good year in 2015. The market was unpredictable, and new companies focused on technology were not as impressive as they have been in previous years. The Venture Capital firms have chosen to dole out money more slowly because startup valuation keeps going down. They are simply not sure which companies are going to make money, and which will remain stagnant or fail. Entrepreneurs who take the billions in Venture Capital raised as a good sign must keep this in mind.

Venture Capital firms that are amassing this money have a few options for where to go from here. They seem to have given up on pouring money into late-stage startups, but may continue to focus on early-stage companies. At least early-stage investments have the ability to give investors a portion of return, therefore this may be the most viable option for Venture Capital firms.

However, this also calls into question how this will affect the slowing entrepreneurial boom in the United States. Of course, if Venture Capital firms choose to invest in early-stage startups, fresh faces in the startup world need not worry. However, that leaves later-stage startups out to dry. If the funding continues to shrink for these late-stage companies, which I suspect it will, we may see an increase in startups trying to exit more quickly than they would normally, or than others have in the past.

Now, entrepreneurs must focus on generating a positive cash flow. This is the only way to make sure that startup companies stay afloat, which may bring in additional funding along the way.

Asia, Entrepreneurship

Startup Environment in Southeast Asia

Todd Crosland Asian EntrepreneurshipAccording to The Establishment Post, South East Asia is being called the next Silicon Valley with its innovative and unique features that differentiate it from the startup industry in the United States. GGV, or Golden Gates Ventures, is one of the six venture capital companies that have been entrusted by the Singaporean government and private sector to aid in the development of their emerging startup industry.

Vinnie Lauria, founder of GGV, claims that the entrepreneurial startup scene in Southeast Asia differs from the US startup scenes in that it is comprised of locals creating products for locals.

Lauria gives us an example of the commuting service startup, GO-Jek, as a company that is innovating for the local people. 90% of Indonesians do not use credit cards, so Go-Jek offers an immediate currier service for locals who opt for their cash-on-delivery service to obtain materials purchased online. The company is meeting the demand for a delivery middleman, creating a more convenient e-commerce environment for the people of Indonesia.

This intrinsic Asian entrepreneurial way of thinking has opened up a more Asia-focused startup industry that sets the startup scene in Asia apart from Silicon Valley. The government is a bit of a roadblock for many Asian countries, but the Singaporean government has allowed for $100 million of investment in the form of six venture capital firms. This will allow for more startups to come out of the woodwork, considering the difficulties of obtaining series A investments.

Lauria points out that along with government involvement, more awareness needs to develop to bluster the Asian startup scene. Lawyers and business developers are needed in Asia who can truly complete these companies and make them attractive for global investors in the long run. The Asian startup scene certainly does not have the extensive entrepreneurial experience as in the United States; however, the starting blocks are coming to fruition. Once the entrepreneurs are able to create a startup environment for their own people, they will be able to look at their companies from a more global perspective.