The difference between public and private investing. Building a personal brand
A weekly newsletter that profiles women in venture and technology
Welcome to Heroa, a weekly newsletter that aims to profile women in venture and technology. If you enjoy what you read, please do share this newsletter with friends - Alexandra.
Round-up of the news this week
Today marks the launch of a new report which shows that most UK founders who land VC funding have one thing in common — and unsurprisingly, it isn’t necessarily genius. It’s privilege.
Away, the luggage company valued at $1.45 billion, named co-founder Jen Rubio chief executive officer. Last year after the pandemic reduced travel, Away’s revenue fell by about 55%.
Romi Savova, the Founder and CEO of Pension Bee, took the company public this week on the London Stock Exchange in an IPO that values the business at £365M.
British digital bank Starling has raised £50 million in funding from Goldman Sachs. The deal with Goldman is still subject to regulatory approval.
From the investors
“Public and private investing are both businesses which are based on instinct and conviction. Ultimately you need to have the conviction that your position is the winning position.” Lily Shaw of OMERS Ventures
The difference between investing in the public and private markets by Lily Shaw of OMERS. Although there is a sizeable difference in the risk and return pursued by the public versus private markets, there are some similarities. Diversification, economic forces and conviction are still needed to succeed in both public and private markets. Read more here…
Building a [personal] brand by Beata Klein of Creandum. Building a personal brand is like telling people a story about yourself. You start with all your personal and professional experiences that make you distinctive and stand out. We all tend to downplay our own experiences, but when you put your story out there, you will quickly realize that you are not alone and find an audience interested in hearing what you have to say. Read more here…
The case for universal creative income. Li Jin of Atelier believes that user rights are civic rights, and creator rights are worker rights in the digital world. Today, creator-workers have little voice over their compensation, protections, and labour practices. Platform-sponsored basic income for creators would be one step towards facilitating a more worker-friendly environment. In turn, a richer and more diverse content environment would enhance the consumer experience. Read more here…
From the operators
“White women are considered checkmarks on tech’s list of DEI requirements. And not only that, but we are the easiest checkmark to fulfil first.” Britt Caldwell
White women are the most dangerous upholders of white supremacy in Silicon Valley, and holding them accountable could cost you your career, your community, and your sanity. Britt Caldwell has written this fascinating piece. I’m not sure I’d do justice summarising it - but it’s worth a read, so please check it out. Read more here ...
Angel investing: A beginner's reading list by Angela Santurbano of Facebook. This is a really great (and one of the more comprehensive) resources that I’ve seen if you are interested in the world of start-ups or, indeed, angel investing. Read more here…
The second wave of DTC is here. Here’s what it looks like by Alanna Gregory, Former Founder/CEO @Vive (YC S15). Not too long ago, building a successful direct-to-consumer brand largely came down to mastering predictable advertising algorithms and executing a formulaic marketing strategy around social media and influencer partnerships. The new chapter of DTC comes with a brand new playbook and with one defining differentiator: community. “DTC” no longer stands for “Direct to Consumer,” but instead “Direct to Community.” Read more here…
Events
🗓️ TERN Investor Showcase is on Wednesday the 28th of April at 18:30 GMT. Backed by Atomico, this event will allow attendees to invest in or support refugee-led businesses.
🗓️ Festival of Funding on Thursday, April 29, 2021, 10:30 am - 2:00 pm GMT. This festival will cover topics such as Angel Investment, Crowdfunding, Non-Dilutive Finance, and the key fundamentals to building a team, how to create a compelling pitch deck and the key metrics you need to hit. Silicon Valley Bank has put the event together.
🗓️ Can the workplace of the future be both flexible and fair? On Thu, 29 April 2021, 12:30 – 13:30 BST. MDR labs and Founders Factory are running this event with speakers from venture capital, law and the start-up world on the panel.
Opportunities
🔥 Entrepreneur First - Community & Network Director - London, Remote
🔥 Forward Partners - Investment Associate - London
🔥Mouro Capital - Market Research Director - London
SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to chat about start-ups and venturing, then do drop me a comment.
Written by Alexandra Wyatt, based in London but a global traveller. You can also reach me on Twitter and Instagram.