What Investment Strategies Are Executives Using in Europe?

TL;DR

Executives from SoftBank and Excel discuss investment strategies focused on the European tech market, emphasizing the region's vibrancy and potential. SoftBank targets growth-stage companies, while Excel specializes in early-stage investments. Both agree on the increasing success and opportunities presented by startups across various European countries, particularly in Eastern Europe.

Transcript

from excel andre abrazo vienna and your moderator connie loiza warm welcome please hi good morning thank you guys for joining us today thank you um so we're all meeting for the first time and I thought we could do everyone here service wants to sort of understand both of you better by talking a little bit about who you are what you focus on do you ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍💻 Europe is an exciting and vibrant ecosystem for tech startups, with successful companies emerging from various countries.
• 🔬 SoftBank and Excel have different focuses, with SoftBank investing in growth-stage companies and Excel investing in early-stage companies.
• 💗 There is a growing interest in Europe from various investors, including corporates and those from China.
• 🎟️ SoftBank's mission to bring technology to underserved areas remains unchanged, despite recent challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: What made the executives switch firms?

The SoftBank executive switched firms to focus on growth-stage investments in Europe, whereas the Excel executive stayed with the firm's focus on early-stage investments.

Q: Are there differences between SoftBank and Excel in terms of size and operation?

SoftBank is a larger firm with a global presence, while Excel is more founder-led and has a local approach to investing in Europe.

Q: Are the SoftBank and Excel executives seeing each other in deals?

Their areas of focus differ, with Excel focusing on early-stage investments and SoftBank focusing on later-stage growth investments. However, there may be opportunities for collaboration between the two firms.

Q: Are there any changes expected from SoftBank in 2020?

While there may be changes in terms of governance and unit economics, the mission of SoftBank to invest in mission-driven companies will remain unchanged. The size of the SoftBank fund has not been commented upon.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The executives discuss their backgrounds and focus areas, with SoftBank focused on growth stage investments and Excel focused on early-stage investments.

• Both firms see Europe as an exciting and vibrant ecosystem, with increasing numbers of successful startups and entrepreneurs.

• They highlight the growth potential in Eastern Europe and the presence of billion-dollar companies in 20 different European countries.