Venture F: The Podcast

This week's episode features Allyson Eman, CEO of the Venture Atlanta Conference, connecting founders and funders through one of the nation’s largest venture capital conferences and communities. 17 years ago the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Technology Association of Georgia, the Atlanta CEO Council came together to launch Venture Atlanta. 

This is the story of the growth the Venture Atlanta Summit and the venture ecosystem in Atlanta. The conference has helped emerging technology companies raise over $7.7B to facilitate growth to date and $17 billion in successful exits including Kabbage, Cloud Sherpas, Roadie, ParkMobile, and SalesLoft.

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DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

Sylvia Kwan, CFA, CAIA, is the Chief Investment Officer for Ellevest, the experts in building and managing women’s wealth. In this episode we discuss Ellevest and the groundbreaking work they have been doing for over a decade to help thousands of women grow their wealth.

A few key takeaways

🔸 The data shows that women are underinvested compared to men - which is one of the many reason Ellevest focuses on women.

🔸 Women are not set up for success unless they investing - this is what we call the gender investing gap.

🔸 The financial industry was built by men for men by default. There was a study that surveyed a number of asset managers and asked who they built products for and 86% said men.

🔸 Investing is often a means to achieve a specific goal (pay for college, retirement, buy a home etc)

🔸 Ellevest is an RIA - they help women build and manage wealth. They offer financial planning and wealth management in addition to investing. They also have a divorce package and planning for inheritance package.

🔸 What is different about Ellevest’s portfolios is their goals based approach.

🔸 The concept of investing can feel overwhelming and intimidating but Ellevest has built a platform that makes it approachable.

SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

In this episode we discuss how she figured out how to launch not one but multiple businesses and teach others along the way. Why she joined the Stella Foundation and how she is continuing to help thousands of women launch and scale businesses through Stella and the Women’s Venture Summit.

🔸 Being an Entrepreneur is an ideal solution for military spouses who need to create income

🔸 Building an online business allows you to take your business with you wherever you go

🔸 Flossie’s experience building multiple businesses led her to her teaching others how to become an entrepreneur

🔸 Stella Foundation is a leading resource helping women entrepreneurs get started with their businesses and raise capital

🔸 Women Venture Summit is the annual two-day event that the Stella Foundation hosts for founders and investors

🔸 Stella Foundation’s core mission is to help  more women founders raise capital

🔸 You don’t have to go it alone - there are resources out there to help you on your way

SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

Jill shares with us this week on the podcast how she is helping women realize their potential and plan for success. We also delve into the UBS Own Your Worth report on women as breadwinners.

Here are some key takeaways:

🔸 Back in 2015 Jill wrote a business plan about the great wealth transfer and pitched numerous banks about hiring her to launch a division specifically focused on women’s wealth - it took a few years - but UBS took note

🔸Only 15% of financial advisors are women - its a great career with flexibility - more women should look into it as a career path

🔸 Planning for exit is crucial. For most founders who exit well, this is transformational wealth. You earned it.  Protect it.

🔸 Jill has observed that when money is in the hands of women they do different things with it, they have different priorities than men

🔸 Women live longer than men, on average, five years, and wives on average, outlive their husbands 15 years due to the divorce rate.

🔸 Nine out of ten women are going to be solely responsible for managing their own wealth at some point in their life which is why it’s important for women to have a working knowledge of their finances and to invest

🔸 61% of women retire earlier than they plan

🔸 Women drive 85% of consumer purchasing decisions and make up 52% of the population

🔸  There are 3 buckets when it comes to planning - liquidity (working capital), lifetime, and legacy

SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

Shivani Siroya, is the founder and CEO of Tala, the first financial platform for the Global Majority. 

In this week’s episode we discuss Shivani’s founder journey, how she raised nearly half a billion dollars in investments and debt, how she created a much-lauded corporate culture that spans multiple contents, and why she’s focused on creating credit solutions for the global majority.

Some takeaways:

🔸 The global majority represents 52% of the world  population (4B people) and represents an economic opportunity of at least $10 trillion - $20 trillion

🔸 Financial infrastructure is not easily accessible for the global majority

🔸 Tala is solving for this by gathering user experience data, loan use data and creates a proprietary credit score that empowers them to gain credit

🔸 1.8B Android devices in these communities

🔸 2/3 of Tala’s clients had no access to credit prior to the app / service

🔸 Tala is looking into adding more financial products for existing client base

🔸 When fundraising for a start-up its all about how many swings you take

🔸 You never know which of your investors will be just as passionate about your business as you are

🔸 Sometimes its not about you - its about timing and the market

🔸 In preparing for later stage fundraising rounds, start talking with institutional investors long before you think you need them

Shivani Siroya, the founder and CEO of Tala, the first financial platform for the Global Majority. Through Tala’s money app - customers across the globe can instantly access credit, deposit, and payment services. Over 9 million customers across Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India have used Tala products to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Tala has raised nearly half a billion dollars in investments and debt, backed by visionary investors including IVP, Revolution Growth, Lowercase Capital, and PayPal Ventures. The company has been named to the Fortune Impact 20 list, CNBC’s Disruptor 50 five years in a row, and Forbes’ Fintech 50 list for eight years running. 

Prior to founding Tala, Shivani worked as an analyst with UNFPA, holding thousands of interviews to understand the financial capacity of microcredit users in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. She has also held a variety of positions in global health and investment banking, including with Health Net, Citigroup, and UBS. Shivani is an Aspen Institute Finance Leader Fellow, a WEF Young Global Leader, Senior TED Fellow, and Ashoka Fellow. She holds a M.P.H from Columbia University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University.

SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

SEE ALL PODCAST EPISODES AT VENTUREF.COM

Liz’s story is one of grit, determination, and inspiration for women entrepreneurs. Like she says “dream big and (you will) win.”

Some key takeaways from today’s conversation

🔸 Entrepreneurialism requires grit

🔸 It’s important to set goals and have objectives to work against

🔸 Quality service leads to repeat business and referrals

🔸 Customer service is everything - know your customers

🔸 Show up when others won’t and do what others don’t

🔸 You do not need to invent something entirely new to be wildly successful you just need to do it differently and better

🔸 When you are going into business with a partner you must have a Shareholders Agreement

🔸 Make sure you own the majority of your company so that you are the decision maker in your company

SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.

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SIGN UP for our newsletter at www.venturef.com/newsletter to get curated news and information about growing your wealth and investing in women delivered to your in-box every week.
 

DISCLAIMER: The information on this podcast is made available solely for general information purposes, is not tailored to the individual needs of a specific person or group, contains only disinterested commentary and analysis, and is not promotional material or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Venture:F does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness the information in this podcast. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Venture:F does not offer any investment advice, we are not a broker-dealer or financial advisor, and this podcast does not constitute any form of legal, tax, or securities advice and may not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.