Grow VC presentation in Russia - Portuguese speaking business community event
Grow Vc Mobile Brain Bank 2010 04 13p
1. Finance for Mobile and Internet Businesses JoukoAhvenainen London, April 13, 2010
2. www.growvc.com 2 What is Grow VC? Grow VC International offers a new global service to enable early phase funding Focus on web and mobile companies Targeted at web and mobile companies that need $10,000 to $1,000,000 funding Total transparency is essential for the service Grow VC will offer three main services: Match-making for business angels to fund investment opportunities and for startups to find private investors Service investment match-making, professionals can invest their time and work in startup instead of dollars Community Investments, i.e. open virtual investment fund that makes investments into startups based on its limited partners voting decisions
3. www.growvc.com 3 Background The business environment of fast-growth companies has changed significantly over the past 15 years Internet and web 2.0 spreading funding model global #1 in their niche VC’s and business angels – typically local Immediately global web and mobile companies look for global smart money, not limited to single country or state New funding models are needed for early phase, but also to cover the needs of different kind of companies not only one type risk money
4. Vision and Mission Vision: The next Silicon Valley is not a location, it is a platform and community on the Internet Mission: Grow VC will provide the platform, service tool kit and partner network for the virtual Silicon Valley www.growvc.com 4
6. Grow VC: Platform and Market Placefor Efficient Start-up Funding First services: Crowdfunding via Community Investments: Members invest 75 % of the membership fee into startups, enough these micro-investments can also trigger a co-investment. Also serves as a peer-review process. Matchmaking in community: Private Investors find direct investment opportunities and Startups find Private Investors Professional service investments: Professionals can invest their time and work in start-up instead of equity Membership fees starting from $20 a month to $140, depending on profile specifications (e.g. investment budget, funding target) www.growvc.com 6
7. Next steps Local investment networks and entrepreneur communities: e.g. local incubators, universities and business angel networks Virtual fund: institutional investors (e.g. VCs and LPs) can out-source seed investments to Grow VC Open platform to build investment models, e.g. investors with similar interests can syndicate a virtual fund or local organization can build its own funding network with its own terms. www.growvc.com 7
13. Web and mobile businesses:new retail business The new chasm is to get attention and users It is like to sell goods through supermarkets, except No manufacturing costs No logistical issues The number of supermarkets and shelf space is in principle limitless To be successful Users must find your app directly, or You must get good supermarkets to put your add to good shelf space, or Both of these options Large micro-funding investment community can help to see potential success stories www.growvc.com 13
14. www.growvc.com 14 Web and mobile servicesfunding Immediately global web and mobile companies look for global smart money, not limited to single country or state Step-by-step funding If you cannot start mobile apps business with less than $200k, you must re-think your approach Make it – launch it – improve it Successful companies don’t do it immediately right, but they use money carefully and are able to change course as they learn New funding models are needed for early phase, but also to cover the needs of different kind of companies not only one type risk money Someone can make simple apps for personal living without world-class ambitious, and need some money to start Another one what to create fast growing business with hundreds of apps
20. Support for investment process and materialsPrivate Investors,e.g. angels Start-upXXX InvestmentPartners, e.g. VC Start-upYYY Entrepreneurs who looks forfunding Start-upZZZ Investment process:Managed by community
21. You don’t have to be Steve Jobs to be an entrepreneur You don’t have to be Bill Gates to be an investor Everyone must start somewhere Grow VC – everyone funding startups Jouko Ahvenainenjouko@growvc.comTel (UK): +44 7889 833 165Tel (US): +1 415 287 0854Skype: jahven www.growvc.com Twitter: @growvc