The world of software is comprehensive and has been one of the fastest changing sectors over the last decade. Here we’ll look into how many sub-sectors, with their own unique business models, have emerged from the use of software, where the industry is headed, and analyse key financial information such as market size, multiples and Read more about SOFTWARE Investment Report[…]
The last couple of year have brought about unprecedented changes in both human behaviour and industry outlook. Two years ago I discussed the tech trends to expect in year 2020 and beyond, so today I’m going to analyse whether those predictions turned out to be true, how those same industries are adapting to this new Read more about THE SECTORS OF THE FUTURE: where to take your strategy to raise the value of your business in the post-lockdown world[…]
We routinely create financial models for startup founders and also seasoned entrepreneurs who are getting ready to face investors. What they want is obviously to present their company in a way that is going to land them an investment, and a financial plan is one of those must-haves, at least in many of the more Read more about WHAT INVESTORS LOOK FOR IN A FINANCIAL PLAN[…]
Strategy is a general word that can be assigned to a variety of different business aspects. It is basically a plan of action that determines how your business is going to develop. What makes creating an effective strategy more challenging is the multitude of possibilities and the different parts of the businesses that may require Read more about LAYING OUT YOUR STRATEGIC ROADMAP[…]
It’s the beginning of a new year and decade. Startup trends change fast, some are more durable and some change like the wind. Just a few months ago, the world looked completely different. I began analysing the new trends at the beginning of the year, and now mid-summer, still in the middle of a lockdowns, Read more about 2020+ TECH TRENDS[…]
Venture capital is very important for entrepreneurship and to enable the development in uncertain technologies and business models that take a long time to become profitable. Other funding sources could not take up the risk that VC Funds take, and therefore our businesses and technologies would look very different today if we didn’t have venture Read more about HOW MUCH SHOULD VENTURE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTE TO A COMPANY’S SUCCESS?[…]
As many world economies develop and join the ranks of developed countries, and as many third-world countries develop fast and start bringing unique innovations to world markets, it’s fair to wonder if their startup hubs can ever reach the level of Silicon Valley. Maybe that would be a stretch, but there are new startup ecosystems Read more about CAN THE LOCAL BUSINESS CULTURE DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STARTUP HUB WILL BE?[…]
We have heard much about the so-called unicorns since Aileen Lee first coined the term 6 years ago, that we’ve forgotten about real companies. The term unicorn refers to private startups that have reached 1-billion dollar in valuation. These are companies that have grown beyond any reasonable expectations. But let’s be honest, unicorns, even if Read more about WHAT IS THE SPIRIT ANIMAL OF YOUR COMPANY?[…]
What was once a myth and rarity is now an everyday story. ‘Unicorns’ are private startups whose valuations have reached $ 1 billion +. Reading out the mythological background of the unicorn out of curiosity, the King of Ethiopia claimed that “it is impossible to take this ferocious beast alive; and that all its strength Read more about WHERE DO UNICORNS COME FROM?[…]
Smart money from startup investors follows ever changing trends in terms of sector, region, stage, and instrument. Startup investors, including business angels, VCs, family offices and corporate VCs can invest directly into startup investment rounds, or join co-investment funds, syndicates or invest in other funds. Funds are increasingly set up as specialised sector funds. They Read more about WHERE ARE EARLY-STAGE INVESTMENTS GOING?[…]
It is not always straightforward what value or valuation really means. In the startup world, everyone is talking about it, tech news are filled with funding round valuation analysis and exit stories. Yet the talk often only touches the surface of what there is to know about the valuation of early-stage investments, or even the Read more about WHAT IS VALUE?[…]
Energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa Almost one in five of the world’s population don’t have access to electricity, 600 million thereof live in Sub-Saharan Africa. This represents around 70-75% of the population in the most affected countries. The problem is difficult to tackle, and the Africa Progress Panel, a group of experts led by Kofi Read more about HOW ENERGY ACCESS CAN OPEN THE DOORS TO DIGITALISATION IN AFRICA: The solution of TREND Solar[…]
Aswath Damodaran’s webinar on “Narrative and Numbers: A Guide to Disciplined Story Telling and Imaginative Number Crunching” on Sageworks provided some very interesting insights into different approaches to valuation. Damodaran distinguishes between those people who are more comfortable with number crunching, and the storytellers. The ‘Numbers’ people tend to think that valuation is all about Read more about DAMODARAN ON NARRATIVE AND NUMBERS IN VALUATION[…]
Until recently few countries had released their own valuation standards. With the market demanding stronger valuation standards, many countries have started working on their own guidelines. The International Valuation Standards Council, for example, seeks to unify these standards. However, the local standards tend to go more into the technical valuation details. The OIV (Organismi Italiano di Read more about AUSTRIAN, GERMAN AND ITALIAN VALUATION STANDARDS AT A GLANCE[…]