Building a Next Generation Tech-Savvy and Data Empowered Private Investment Firm

“Knowledge is power” – Sir Francis Bacon.

#DataDrivenInvesting #PE #VC #PrivateEquity #FamilyOffice #Investing #Fintech

I explained in my last post “The Next Edge in Private Equity” why I believe that tech-savvy, data-driven investors can gain an advantage.

I have been working on an initiative to leverage technology, as well as traditional and alternative sources of data, to improve my efficiency. I believe technology can provide an edge through differentiated insight and productivity gains. Over 200 solutions, tools, and data sets have been identified. I guess that you can label me a data junky! I have been using several resources for a long time, tried some more recently, and plan on trying others occasionally in the future given the high price points or the more niche use cases. It is a burgeoning field; I am constantly discovering new resources.

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The Next Edge in Private Equity

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The private equity industry has experienced substantial growth over the last 30 years. There are currently over 3,500 firms globally with over $1 Trillion in dry powder (nearly 2x the amount in 2012). We have witnessed the industry maturing and becoming more competitive than ever. The business model of the industry has proven to be very successful and lucrative, incentivizing bigger funds, the creation of more and more firms and thereby crowding the marketplace, intensifying competition for the most attractive targets.

In such a high stake environment, the traditional industry model is increasingly being upended. Less information asymmetry between investors and entrepreneurs, less reliance on financial engineering to generate returns, and more focus on differentiation and value add services. Firms must fight harder than ever for an edge. In an era where data is the new oil, I believe that tech-savvy, data-driven investors will gain an advantage over their peers.

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Fierce Global Food Fight Over What’s on Your Plate

Capital is flowing to thousands of innovative upstarts and mid-market companies who are driving the growth of the food industry and taking an ever increasing bite out the dominant market share of Big Food’s legacy brands.

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Hire a Student Entrepreneur This Summer

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It is summer and you’re probably thinking how to best enjoy this amazing time of the year (super short for us in Canada) with your friends and family. Do yourself a favor and simultaneously make a small move that will potentially change someone’s life and definitively make both lives better. Hire a student entrepreneur!

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How to Land a Job in Private Equity

Private equity (PE) is one of the most coveted corners of finance. Hence, entering the industry is very challenging. Whether you’re a student trying to jump start your career or a recent graduate seeking to transition in this exciting field, here are a few tips.

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A New Wave of Innovation in Investment Management

“Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability…. We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.”
― Thomas A. Edison

The world of investment management has always evolved rapidly. However, upcoming shifts are of epic proportions. We are currently only witnessing the tip of the iceberg in terms of changes that will impact the profession. Technological and macroeconomic pressures abound. Don’t be left behind. Reinvent yourself or risk being disrupted!

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Family Offices: How the Ultra Net Worth Families Protect & Create Wealth for Generations

auroreFamily offices are growing rapidly in scale and gaining significant influence. Yet given the inherently private nature of their activities and because the term is used loosely for marketing purposes, the field remains misunderstood. Each office is unique and reflects the distinct personality and objectives of its principal(s). From single to multi-family offices, staffed with a few investment professionals to full-service offices with hundreds of professionals, here is a sneak peek into an exciting corner of asset management and how ultra-high net worth families protect and create wealth.

  1. It’s a Family (Office) Thing. They now manage over $3 trillion globally – more than hedge funds. The Rockefellers and Gates are not the only families to have created one, but you’ll need at least $500M to $1B for a full-service family office. The trend towards family offices is accelerating. Here’s why.
  2. The New Rising Class. John D. Rockefeller was the United States’ first billionaire in 1916. According to BCG, there are now nearly 500 billionaires in the U.S – 100 new billionaires were created in the last five years alone. According to a recent UBS study, from 1995 to 2014, the number of global female billionaires grew even faster – by a factor of 6.6, versus 5.2 for men. More than 80% of female billionaires hail from the U.S.; though 19% of them were self-made. There are over 12,000 Americans who are worth more than $100M.
  3. Ultra-Wealthy Hold More Private Equity Than Stocks. According to Tiger 21, aggregate investments in PE – at 23% of total portfolio value – exceeded the value held in stocks. The biggest change in asset ownership has been the growth of PE, up from 12% in 2007. Over the same time frame, stocks dropped from 28% to 22%. Only real estate, at 25%, exceeds PE’s share of Tiger 21 wealth.
  4. Pritzker Group and Other Wealthy Families Skip PE Firms to Invest Directly. Families increasingly prefer to invest directly in private companies. Traditionally, wealthy families served as limited partners in PE firms, which in turn backed portfolio companies. But over the last several years, family offices have begun hiring  professionals to invest in private companies directly. Doing so successfully requires tremendous scale and expertize in a competitive investment environment.
  5. Germany’s intensely private and immensely wealthy Reimann family. Inspiring story of a family making bold investments in consumers products and coffee.
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5-Bullet Friday: Private Equity Evolving

  1. The Future Belongs to the Bold – Canada needs more courage
  2. Searching for the “perfect private equity model” in a difficult market
  3. The Shifting Business Model of private equity
  4. Long interview with Henry Kravis of KKR– one of the iconic founding fathers of the modern PE industry
  5. Operational improvement the “private equity way
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Vendredi 5-Points: L’évolution de l’industrie du capital-investissement

  1. L’avenir appartient aux audacieux- Le Canada a besoin de plus de courage
  2. La recherche du «modèle de private equity parfait» dans un marché difficile
  3. Le modèle d’affaires du capital-investissement en évolution
  4. Longue entrevue avec Henry Kravis de KKR- l’un des pères fondateurs emblématiques de l’industrie du PE moderne
  5. Amélioration opérationnelle «à la private equity»
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Vendredi 5-Points: Investissement en capital de risque & Gouvernance corporative

L’été tire à sa fin. J’espère que vous en avez profité. Voici quelques articles intéressants qui ont attiré mon attention.

  1.  Comment Yale investi en VC pour générer 93 % IRR au cours des 20 dernières années.
  2. Les marchés publics sont brisés. Principes de gouvernance d’entreprise remplis de bon sens – Warren Buffet et 13 PDG signent une lettre ouverte.
  3. Le « casse-tête » de la bulle technologique. Pourquoi les marchés des capitaux publics et privés valorisent différemment les entreprises technologiques.
  4. Ce qui rend un entrepreneur à succès? Décoder l’ADN de l’entrepreneur.
  5. Comprendre les avantages et les inconvénients de la dette pour les sociétés financées par le capital de risque.
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