Pandemic Venture Investment Series with @OurcrowdFund - Episode 1 | SALT Talks #96​

TL;DR

The first episode of the Pandemic Venture Investment series features Steve Kraus and Alec Ellison discussing the challenges and opportunities of investing during the pandemic.

Transcript

hello everyone and welcome back to salt talks my name is john darcy i'm the managing director of salt which is a global thought leadership forum and networking platform at the intersection of finance technology and public policy salt talks are a digital interview series that we launched during this work from home period with leading investors creat... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and highlighted the importance of technology in driving business resilience.
• 🏆 Innovation and disruption are occurring across industries, with winners often dominating the market.
• 😀 Healthcare, e-commerce, and enterprise software are experiencing significant growth opportunities.
• 💱 Regulatory processes in healthcare and other sectors may see permanent changes due to advancements in technology.
• 🔠 Capital intensity is decreasing in certain sectors, such as space commercialization, making them more accessible to venture capital.
• 😤 The role of management teams and investment due diligence has become more challenging in a virtual environment.
• ❓ US Venture Partners focuses on early-stage investing and values deep industry knowledge and expertise.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has the role of venture capital changed during the pandemic?

The venture capital industry has become global and has access to more capital sources than ever before. Crises like the pandemic test the resilience of investment teams and can lead to changes in investment strategies.

Q: How is the digital transformation impacting the investment landscape?

Companies are being forced to accelerate their digital transformation efforts, leading to a shift in how they operate and reach customers. This has created opportunities for innovation and disruption in industries such as healthcare, e-commerce, and enterprise software.

Q: Are there any industries that have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic?

Industries heavily reliant on in-person interactions, such as hospitality and travel, have been significantly impacted. Additionally, some traditional marketing and sales automation companies have struggled due to changes in consumer behavior and budget constraints.

Q: How has the valuation of companies changed since the start of the pandemic?

Valuations have been increasing in the venture capital industry, especially for fast-growing companies. Some companies are now being valued at astronomical multiples of their revenue, driven by low interest rates and the influx of liquidity in the market.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Salt Talks is a digital interview series that provides insights from subject matter experts on big ideas shaping the future.

• The Pandemic Venture Investment series focuses on deep dives into the challenges and opportunities emerging from the pandemic crisis.

• Steve Kraus, Managing Partner of US Venture Partners, and Alec Ellison, Chairman of OurCrowd US, discuss the unique aspects of investing during the pandemic.