Finding Alpha in Bitcoin, DeFi & Fintech | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Sean Bill, CEO/CIO of VTA and founder of Recurve Ventures, discusses VC investments in fintech, including successes in the space and the potential of the blockchain.

Key Insights

• 🥡 VTA takes an entrepreneurial approach to investment, seeking opportunities for additional returns.
• 🙈 Recurve Ventures has seen major gains in fintech, with successful investments in companies offering auto dealership loans and microloans in Mexico.
• 🥺 Sean Bill is bullish on the blockchain and DeFi space, believing it will lead to the disintermediation of financial intermediaries.
• 👨‍💼 Bill's insights for fintech investments come from his background in the trading business and observing the digitization of various industries.
• 👻 The democratization of access to investments is made possible through platforms like AngelList, which allows both retail and institutional investors to participate in startups.
• 😘 The venture capital world can be exclusive, but platforms like AngelList help break down barriers and lower the minimum ticket size for entry.

Transcript

welcome to the salt sideline report i am  leanna hawkins and we are here at salt new   york with sean bill he is the ce cio of vta and  he is also the founder of recurve ventures a vc   investment fund very interesting stuff welcome  oh thank you great to be here really excited to   be back out in the conference circuit and first  one in the last t... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is VTA's approach to investment opportunities?

VTA takes an entrepreneurial mindset, seeking less crowded opportunities for additional returns. They made a successful investment in Bitcoin, becoming the first US public pension plan to do so.

Q: What have been some of Recurve Ventures' successes in fintech?

Recurve Ventures made investments in companies like Autophy, which provides loans to auto dealerships, and Qesky, a Mexican startup offering microloans and buy now pay later services. Both companies have seen significant growth and valuations.

Q: How does Sean Bill see the future of fintech?

Bill is bullish on the blockchain and DeFi space, expecting a massive disintermediation of financial intermediaries. He believes fintech will become ubiquitous, similar to the seamless transactions made with services like Lyft or Uber.

Q: Where does Sean Bill get insights for his fintech investments?

Bill stays informed through reading, research, and meetings with founders. He sees opportunities in areas like marketplaces on the DeFi network and believes there will be a digital revolution in asset management, banking, and consumer finance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sean Bill is the CEO/CIO of VTA, a $3.5 billion pension fund, and the founder of Recurve Ventures, a VC investment fund focused on fintech.

• VTA aims to find entrepreneurial opportunities with institutional resources, recently making a successful investment in Bitcoin.

• Recurve Ventures has had major gains in fintech, with successful investments in companies like Autophy and Qesky in Mexico.