Silvia Saccardi’s Post

According to Wealth Club research, Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) are streets ahead when it comes to investing in high growth companies. And when it comes to which VCT has the greatest exposure to fast-growing companies, when measuring annual revenue growth, the Blackfinch Spring VCT comes out ahead of the rest of the VCT market. You can view the Wealth Club research, published in IFA Magazine//bit.ly/3HeHtuL Take a look at this Insight piece that explains why VCTs are thriving: https://bit.ly/4aPhKqp [Capital at risk] #VCT #VentureCapitalTrust #InvestmentStrategy #HighGrowthCompanies #Investing #TaxIncentives #TaxYearEnd #VentureCapitalists #TaxProducts

💡 SAFEs are now the preferred investment instrument for all rounds under $3 million. Stay ahead of the curve with our in-depth look at the state of pre-seed funding in the first quarter of 2024. New data out now. #VC #Investing

🤔 📉 Rethinking the Status Quo: Is the Traditional GP/LP Model Losing its Edge? As we look closer at the traditional General Partner/Limited Partner (GP/LP) model, it's clear that while foundational strengths remain, the industry is at a critical juncture requiring adaptation and innovation. What's Working Well: ▪ Growth Through Fund of Funds (FoF) and Thematic Funds: Offering support beyond capital, especially for early-stage tech ventures. ▪ Broad Investment Scope with Limited Liability: Balancing risk and control across various company stages. ▪ Beneficial Co-Investment Structures: Leveraging GP expertise and LP capital in sectors like private equity real estate. ▪ Strategic GP Stakes Investing: Enhancing GP/LP relationships with liquidity and direct participation opportunities. ▪ Adaptation to Emerging Technologies: Moving from an "access class" to a mature, professionalized asset class with vast opportunities. Areas Facing Challenges: ▪ Alignment of LPs' Goals and Expectations: The diversity of LP criteria and rigorous due diligence pose alignment challenges. ▪ Compliance and Tax Treatment in Secondaries Transactions: Stringent requirements introduce significant hurdles. ▪ Rapid Technological and Market Evolution: Demands shifts towards more transparency, compliance, and professionalization. ▪ Increasing LP Demand for ESG and Sustainable Practices: Requiring integration of ESG considerations into investment strategies. ▪ Growing Preference for Co-Investment Opportunities: Reflecting LPs' desire for more active involvement and higher returns. ▪ Negotiation of Economic Terms and Co-Investment Allocations: Creating pressure on GPs to offer enticing terms to high-value LPs. ▪ Impact of Management Fees on Net Returns: High management fees challenge the balance between operational costs and performance. ▪ Fee Compression and Distribution Waterfall Models: Post-recession initiatives lead to modest changes in management fees, prompting some LPs to insource or direct investments. The evolving dynamics between GPs and LPs, influenced by technological advancements, changing investment preferences, and the push for sustainable practices, highlight the need for continued innovation and adaptation within the traditional GP/LP model. What do you think? 💡   #VentureCapital #Innovation #Investing #Startups #EuropeanVC Sources: Antler, EY, Sapphire Capital Partners, Molten Ventures, Stout, Green Spring Associates, Ropes Gray, Sifted, Edda, Reuters

Join Billy Brown and Anne Slater-Brooks MBA, FPFS, TEP 🇺🇦 for an insightful CPD-qualifying webinar, where we'll unravel the intricacies of Venture Capital Trust (VCT) investments and explore actionable planning scenarios for you and your clients. �� 📅 Save the Date: Tuesday 28 November | 🕒 Time: 13:00   📌 Agenda Highlights:   Explore VCT Landscape Driving Forces Behind VCT Investments Unlock Strategic Planning Opportunities   Sign up here – https://lnkd.in/es8pES9t   Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and is subject to change. Tax reliefs depend on the VCT maintaining its qualifying status. Investor's capital is at risk.   #VCTInvestments #CPDWebinar #FinancialInsights #StrategicPlanning 

The latest edition of the ETF Partners newsletter is here, bringing you a wealth of insights and stories from the intersection of venture capital and sustainability. Each month, we keep you informed about the latest trends and breakthroughs in sustainable innovation. Sign up now to stay ahead in the world of sustainable investing, impact, and venture capital. Here are some highlights from this month's edition: From our team: ♻️ Our Managing Partner, Patrick Sheehan, was recently invited to speak at the Sifted Summit. ♻️ We're excited to reveal our 2023 Annual Impact Report, showcasing how our portfolio companies are driving change in sustainable innovation. ♻️ We're proud to announce that we won this year's Venture Capital category at the Real Deals Media #ESG Awards. ♻️ Tune in for the latest episode of our 'Sustainability Talks' podcast featuring Azeem Azhar, the brilliant mind behind 'Exponential View.' From our portfolio: ♻️Wirepas, a global leader in IoT connectivity and innovation, successfully raised $22M to fuel its growth! ♻️GenPhoenix's innovative upcycled leather technology is now powering Coach's new Coachtopia line. ♻️Open Cosmos is boldly venturing into new frontiers with its latest satellite mission launch. ♻️Flyability has been named a finalist in the Sandvik Startup Challenge 2023 with SynerLeap & Microsoft. ♻️Zeelo has been nominated for The Europas Tech Startup Awards! ♻️Urbantz announced a new partnership with FM Logistics Corporation, extending their collaboration to Romania. ♻️Dexter Energy's Flex Optimisation solution has been used in Pure Energie's recent installation of Batterij 1. ♻️Phenix was honoured with the 'Responsible Initiative of the Year' award at the esteemed Grand Prix Focus Retail. ♻️Vulog revealed that its cutting-edge technology helps save 200K tons of CO2 emissions annually. ♻️Intigriti's bug bounty platform for Yahoo was featured in ComputerWeekly.com. Discover these stories and more in our newsletter. Read it here: https://bit.ly/47lpAWl #VentureCapital #Sustainability #Impact #Innovation #Awards #OctoberNewsletter #SustainabilityThroughInnovation

some great insight here:

It was a struggle to complete this course. But, This course gave me a comprehensive understanding of the PE and VCI, including the different types of investments, the investment process, and the risks and rewards involved. #Pursuing before #buildingcommunities #coursera https://lnkd.in/d7FHKEdq

This year is the highest ever fundraise on record for Blackfinch Spring VCT, and it's not over yet! There’s still time to apply online for shares in the Blackfinch Spring VCT ahead of tax year-end. We must receive completed VCT applications by 5pm on 4th April to be part of the final share allotment on 5th April 2024. There's no denying the UK is the home of innovation, a hub for incubating technology companies that go on to achieve things on a global scale. This is the opportunity for your investors to access those companies in their early stages, and be part of their growth story. For more information, or to submit an online application, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/emNnQZP9 If your clients are interested, they can still claim a 1% Early Bird discount provided we receive their VCT application by 5pm, 4th April. [Capital at risk. Benefits of tax-efficient investments are subject to change and personal circumstances.] #VCT #VentureCapitalTrust #InvestmentStrategy #HighGrowthCompanies #Investing #TaxIncentives #TaxYearEnd #VentureCapitalists #TaxProducts

🚨 AP3 Tredje AP-fonden and Wafra Forge Covalent Alliance: A $1.05 Billion Private Equity Co-Investment Platform - AP3 and Wafra have collaborated to launch a private equity co-investment platform called Covalent. - Covalent will have an initial capitalization of $1.05 billion, focusing on mid-market buyouts and growth equity financings in North America and Europe. - Wafra, in previous collaborations, worked with LPs like the The Public Institution for Social Security of Kuwait and formed Capital Constellation in 2018. - AP3 is one of six LPs supporting Capital Constellation, which has raised additional funds, reaching its $1.5 billion target for Constellation Generation IV in 2022. - AP3, with over 20 years of private market investment, has shifted towards increased direct investing, particularly in private equity. - Regulatory changes in 2020 enabled AP3 to directly back co-investments, leading to the development of a differentiated strategy in collaboration with Capital Constellation. - AP3 aims to invest more directly within its alternatives program, taking a governance role on a board level with portfolio companies and asset owners. - Covalent's founders seek to benefit from pooling dealflow, scaled resources, and data, aiming to create a differentiated and agile source of capital. - Covalent aims to avoid misaligned incentives and conflicts of interest often associated with commingled co-investment funds. - The platform provides direct access to general partners, facilitating knowledge sharing and effective communication. - Covalent will enable AP3 to conduct due diligence on existing and new GPs, expanding its network and investment opportunities. - Steve Moseley, a managing director at Wafra, emphasizes that co-investments offer more than just cost avoidance, providing direct access and knowledge sharing opportunities. - Moseley notes the potential to deploy over $1 billion of capital into co-investments in the coming years, welcoming institutional investors to complement sourcing capabilities. - The possibility of adding institutional investors in Asia is considered, recognizing the potential benefits of having an LP footprint in the region.

VC investing used to be a very niche and blue ocean space. And it was very fluid - it had to be to find new businesses that nobody thought had a chance. As the allure of VC became more mainstream, business engineers found ways to engineer specific outcomes to benefit the GPs. Many firms are in the business of collecting management fees or forcing unnatural valuations and realizations of positions to turn profits. The best VC funds will continue to be mostly inaccessible to the general investor. Maybe the question to ask is how does an LP or investor either (1) find the funds that actually have the chance to be in the 2% of those funds; (2) or start a fund that puts you in position to be a top 2%? Just like at the horse track - it's usually obvious to find horses that have zero chance and those horses rarely, if ever, win and aren't worth the bet.