KoinWorks’ Post

Hunger is under-rated Often, people ask me, "VC - good life eh?". Having reached my 2-year mark in this job, I have concluded - it's really easy to do a mediocre job as a VC (and get away with it), but surprisingly tough to be a great one It's really easy to passively sit back, wait for inbound pitches and make smart-sounding criticisms. It's a lot harder to go on the aggressive, uncover and fight for competitive deals, and figure out how to move the needle for portfolio founders Which is why we at Saison Capital are actively looking out to back first-time general partners (GPs). From Valerie Van V.'s Ansible Ventures in Vietnam to Fandy Cendrajaya and James Prananto's Kopital Ventures in Indonesia, we have seen first-time GPs bring a different kind of entrepreneurial fire to the venture capital world These are investors whom we believe have the hunger. Hunger to hunt, hunger to help, hunger to succeed. Privileged to be work alongside and learn from them! Thanks DealStreetAsia and Tabita Diela for shining the spotlight on our beliefs as LPs into many first-time GPs! Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gNX3ezQf

📰 In a recent article by DealStreetAsia, our Managing Partner, Kreshna Yuditya Rahmat, shared his insights on how establishing proper corporate governance helps build credibility, mitigate risks, and create a foundation for growth. He also talked about the various legal points that need to be covered to navigate the challenges in times of distress, particularly in relation to the legal obligations to employees for the purpose of avoiding wrongful termination claims and reputational damage. 🌟 Furthermore, the article also provides: 📊 In-depth analysis of the Indonesian startup shakeout, exploring factors contributing to consolidation and market shifts. 🔍 The necessity for strong business fundamentals. Startups with a clear path to profitability can still attract investment despite tighter funding environments. 👀 Read further about the article and Kreshna's insights here: https://lnkd.in/gaDV6ZE4 ✅ Follow our page for further updates --- areté

ANGEL INVESTOR UPDATES Finally completed our 1-on-1 angel investor update. Sam (Co-Founder & CEO, pitchIN) is 1 of 3 angel investors that invested in Mesolitica back in January 2019 as part of WTF Accelerator Batch 7. Our 1-hour conversation was around elaborating our current Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies with BigTech in monetizing our MaLLaM 🌙 foundational models (tech-led) including Nous 2.0 (product-led) development to reattempt our SaaS playbook for SME market. At the heart of our discussion is of course our fundraising activities for MaLLaM-SEAng 🌙 (Southeast Asia narrative) which includes asking for advice on the possibilitty of a bridging round to support our domestic market (Malaysia narrative), exploring local funds that are specifically looking into deep tech investment -- leveraging on our latest public exposure with MIMOS on our quest towards AI Sovereignty for Malaysia to help execute government's AI-narrative which has been on 5th gear in H1 '24. 🤖🧠🌊 ps: My first ever 5-minute pitch for Dropshipking (my 1st startup, solo founder) was in December 2016 and Sam was one of the judges 🙂

Forbes has launched the seventh-annual Midas List Europe, highlighting the best venture capital investors in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company investments that helped investors make the list this year are largely consistent with last year. But unlike previous years, none of the 10 companies with the largest impact on the list went public in 2023, underscoring ongoing challenges in the market, according to an analysis by Midas data partner, TrueBridge Capital. For the seven of the following ten companies that also appeared on last year’s list of company drivers, their enduring success has continued to help VCs earn a spot on the Midas List Europe, even as exit opportunities have been sparse. Resilient venture-backed companies like the ones detailed below have continued to grow, in part by embracing the AI wave, announcing new product features and enhancements that promise greater efficiency. #ForbesMidas

🚀Thrilled to share that K50 Ventures, a stellar Partner of IDC Ventures has been featured in MarketWatch 🚀 This recognition highlights the impactful work and success stories of K50 Ventures in shaping the future for small businesses and the burgeoning middle class. A big congratulations to our Venture Capital vertical IDC Ventures for cultivating innovation and supporting game-changers like K50 Ventures. This achievement truly underscores the collaborative strength and vision we share. Dive into the MarketWatch feature to explore K50's journey and their focus on mainstream consumers, generating strong returns: https://lnkd.in/e3PEsrMb Steve Gelsi   As the most trusted first-check investor for mission-driven founders, K50 Ventures is dedicated to building a better future for the 99%. With a focus on Health, Finance, and Work & Learning, K50 invests up to $2M in pre-seed and seed stage companies in the US and LATAM. Their commitment to improving access, affordability, and wellbeing is at the forefront of their investment strategy. Let's celebrate this milestone together and continue empowering positive impact! 🌐 #IDCVentures #K50Ventures #Innovation #MarketWatchFeature #Collaboration #VentureCapital #SuccessStories

Here's another contribution to an article about IPO opportunities for SEA startups at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), featuring insights from my home country, Japan. ** A special thanks to DealStreetAsia journalist, Khamila Mulia, for this opportunity to discuss the topic of IPOs at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). ** https://lnkd.in/drEhPpbg The article is well-crafted, highlighting the interest of Southeast Asian (SEA) companies in listing on the TSE for IPOs. Please check it out while it’s freely available for a limited time. While the TSE offers substantial benefits for non-Japanese companies, there are important factors to consider. The article sheds light on various aspects of listing at the TSE for SEA companies. Here’s my thought regarding this topic: The TSE is known for its high liquidity, attracting a diverse group of investors, from Japanese retail investors to foreign institutional investors. Now TSE is outgoing, proposing SEA companies (and other non-Japanese companies) to consider TSE for listing and public offerings. Is the TSE an attractive market for startups or established companies from SEA looking to raise funds through an IPO? Yes, particularly if your business appeals to the investors active on the TSE—especially Japanese investors. (Otherwise, there's always NYSE/Nasdaq) However, this is where the challenge lies. TSE has been proactive in its efforts to attract overseas companies. For example, they have made concessions regarding the language barrier—documentation for IPOs can now be completed in English. Additionally, listing costs and timelines have been reduced, which I believe is a step in the right direction. To benefit from low-cost listings and, most importantly, liquidity at TSE, your shares must attract Japanese investors. This means actively engaging with them. However, it’s important to note that the Japanese public is not typically immersed in English-speaking environments daily, nor even on special occasions. (For instance, only 17% of the population holds a passport!) To appeal to Japanese investors on the TSE, it might be necessary to align more closely with Japanese cultural and language expectations. Perhaps. Overall, I recommend considering a TSE listing for SEA companies, provided you have a strong business presence or investor relations in Japan. Regardless of the discussion above and in the article, personally, I'm hoping that many SEA startups will consider the TSE as a strategic choice for their exit strategies.

Forbes has launched the seventh-annual Midas List Europe, highlighting the best venture capital investors in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company investments that helped investors make the list this year are largely consistent with last year. But unlike previous years, none of the 10 companies with the largest impact on the list went public in 2023, underscoring ongoing challenges in the market, according to an analysis by Midas data partner, TrueBridge Capital. For the seven of the following ten companies that also appeared on last year’s list of company drivers, their enduring success has continued to help VCs earn a spot on the Midas List Europe, even as exit opportunities have been sparse. Resilient venture-backed companies like the ones detailed below have continued to grow, in part by embracing the AI wave, announcing new product features and enhancements that promise greater efficiency. #ForbesMidas

Forbes has launched the seventh-annual Midas List Europe, highlighting the best venture capital investors in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company investments that helped investors make the list this year are largely consistent with last year. But unlike previous years, none of the 10 companies with the largest impact on the list went public in 2023, underscoring ongoing challenges in the market, according to an analysis by Midas data partner, TrueBridge Capital. For the seven of the following ten companies that also appeared on last year’s list of company drivers, their enduring success has continued to help VCs earn a spot on the Midas List Europe, even as exit opportunities have been sparse. Resilient venture-backed companies like the ones detailed below have continued to grow, in part by embracing the AI wave, announcing new product features and enhancements that promise greater efficiency. #ForbesMidas

Forbes has launched the seventh-annual Midas List Europe, highlighting the best venture capital investors in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The company investments that helped investors make the list this year are largely consistent with last year. But unlike previous years, none of the 10 companies with the largest impact on the list went public in 2023, underscoring ongoing challenges in the market, according to an analysis by Midas data partner, TrueBridge Capital. For the seven of the following ten companies that also appeared on last year’s list of company drivers, their enduring success has continued to help VCs earn a spot on the Midas List Europe, even as exit opportunities have been sparse. Resilient venture-backed companies like the ones detailed below have continued to grow, in part by embracing the AI wave, announcing new product features and enhancements that promise greater efficiency. #ForbesMidas

Richard Armstrong is a Venture Partner at TA Ventures based in Southeast Asia, focused on emerging markets, with an emphasis on consumer technology and marketplaces. Outside TA Ventures, he has angel invested in over 70 companies globally. 🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us? Most of my time is not actually spent behind the desk and crunching numbers, but more meeting individuals from all parts of the globe. 🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far? Working and meeting alongside the best entrepreneurs and backing the most exciting early companies, such as HD and many more. Being able to lead emerging markets for TA Ventures and speaking to founders solving the biggest problems every day and being able to help them. 💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? Try to meet as many founders as possible and people, and try to be as useful as possible and expect nothing in return. 🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? Silicon Valley 🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor? Mango Sorbet — FYI. We've edited this interview for length and clarity. Read the full feature 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/efEQarxN Want the latest news in SEA tech? Subscribe for free on: www.BackScoop.com