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Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — Funding the Future. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Ren Riley, General Partner at Fin Capital, a B2B fintech-focused venture firm with over $800 Million under management.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Venture Market Evolution: Ren reflects on the drastic changes in the venture industry over the past 25 years, from the dot-com bubble to today’s market challenges.
- Impact of Economic Cycles: He provides insights into how various economic downturns, including the 2000 dot-com crash and the 2008 financial crisis, have shaped venture investing practices.
- Fin Capital’s Strategy: Fin Capital is laser-focused on B2B fintech, investing across all stages from pre-seed to public, with a specialized emphasis on eight fintech subsectors.
- Importance of Repeat Founders: Fin Capital only backs repeat founders, emphasizing the value of experience in navigating both opportunities and challenges in the venture landscape.
- State of the IPO Market: Ren discusses the current challenges facing the IPO market, noting the lack of liquidity and the impact on employees and founders within the venture ecosystem.
- Future Outlook for Unicorns: He addresses the uncertain future for many of the 1,500+ private unicorns, highlighting the need for resourcefulness and potential consolidation in the market.
Actionable
Takeaways
Focus on Sector Specialization:
A specialized investment focus, like Fin Capital’s commitment to B2B fintech, can create synergies and deepen expertise, providing a competitive edge.
Backing Experienced Founders:
Prioritize investing in repeat founders who have a proven ability to navigate both growth opportunities and downturns, reducing investment risk.
Understand Economic Cycles:
Be mindful of how different economic cycles affect investment strategies, and adapt your approach based on historical lessons from past downturns.
Navigating the IPO Landscape:
When considering an IPO, ensure your company meets the rigorous standards that current market conditions demand, such as significant revenue and profitability.
Prepare for Consolidation:
In the current market, consider the potential for mergers or private equity buyouts as viable exit strategies, especially for companies that might struggle to go public.
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