How have Crypto Currencies affected traditional Venture Capital and Investing?
As we are preparing to raise funds to complete the development of our platform we would like to share more information about our funding options and how the investment landscape has changed since the introduction of Blockchain technology.
You can think of Bitcoin as a digital asset or store of value. This is the most simple explanation. Here’s a short documentary that goes into much more depth of Bitcoin and the history behind the technology.
While this explains Bitcoin it doesn’t discuss Venture Capitalism or how this technology affects Traditional Investments.
First lets talk a bit about Crowdfunding and early stage or Angel Investing. This is probably one of the areas that will be most affected by Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology.
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups or (JOBS) Act was a critical piece of U.S. legislation that was signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 5, 2012, that loosens regulations instituted by the Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) on small businesses. It lowers reporting and disclosure requirements for companies with less than $1 billion in revenue, and allows advertising of securities offerings. It also allows greater access to crowd-funding, and greatly expands the number of companies that can offer stock without going through SEC registration. You can click on the JOBS image below to get more information about this great investment tool.
The JOBS ACT has changed the game, in several ways. Everyone is now an accredited investor for starters! This alone is major yet so few are even aware or taking advantage of these new opportunities! You can read more about the JOBS act from this (LINK).
Another one of the major changes that Blockchain will bring to investing and Venture Capital is almost instantaneous Liquidity. This is a major shift in the traditionally very slow expected return of normal investments turnaround of 5–8 years waiting for an exit to cashout.
Liquidity #2 Reason for VC interest according to the Harvard Business Review
Venture Capital funds are another one of the primary ways that startup companies and small businesses can earn institutional financing from accredited investors, including investment banks and other financial institutions.
While monetary investments are the primary form of venture capital, technical and managerial expertise can also be provided.
Why would investors choose to put their money into a company that’s only existed for a few years, even months?
The simple answer is that there is always the promise of above average returns, and any long time investor would have trouble saying no to profits of three or four times the original investment.
Additionally, investors are often given equity in companies they are investing in, giving them some power and say in important business decisions so that they can make sure the money they gave is well spent.
For newer companies, investment from venture capital is usually the only choice for funding, especially if the company does not have access to other means of raising money, such as through capital markets or bank loans. With more and more startups seeking capital from large VC firms, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge.
Timing is everything when it comes to VC funding, and startups must have a product or service that will prove it can generate revenue at a rapid growth rate.
According Crunchbase, July 2018, “set a record for the number of nine-figure rounds raise worldwide… [with] $15 billion in venture capital deal flow, July was a good time to raise $100 million or more.” And while VC firms will continue to be a popular, if not the go-to means for startups to raise funding, there has been a noticeable shift in the industry in the last few months.
Traditional VC funds naturally own a less democratic nature. Investing is not open to all, but rather a few elite that meet certain criteria. The VC industry has undergone an interesting year because of blockchain technology, especially when it comes to openness and inclusion.
Blockchain technology opens up the world of VCs beyond financial institutions and accredited investors, making it so that more people can invest and join. With ICO’s, thousands of companies have raised from the public but with zero regulation and more than zero scammers, and the upcoming future of STO’s actually seems much more promising.
Tal Elyashiv, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at SPiCE VC, says that thanks to the blockchain, some new funds are able to accommodate hundreds of investors, compared to the tropical ten to twenty LP’s of a traditional VC. “It allows investors to enjoy the benefits of investing in a VC fund while committing much smaller amounts than required for participating as LPs in a traditional VC fund, allowing for much more participation of investors in the fund.”
When investing through a traditional VC firm, chances are the company you are investing in will have a working product and/or market strategy, giving investors the promise that there will be an actual return on the money they are spending.
However, this is not always the case, and some investors struggle with the lack of liquidity for the investments that they provide.
Lack of liquidity is a catch-22. The length of time required in order to see an actual return on investment can be a deterrent for investors; however if a company does not receive enough funding, their performance will be low and with profits following suit. As with any investments, there is always a risk.
“Traditional VC’s are known to be illiquid, “ tells me Alexander Tkachenko, Founder & CEO of VNX, a platform for tokenized VC assets, “They usually lock up an investor’s capital for 10–12 years, and together with other restrictions limits access to this asset class for the majority of would-be investors.”
In order to gain funding from traditional VC’s, an actual product or viable MVP is required to gain the necessary attention from credible investors. Who wants to invest their money in a company with just the promise of a product eventually being delivered?
This is a main reason why the ICO trend has caught everyone by surprise. With the scams and distrust associated now with ICOs in particular, many VCs in the crypto age are hesitant to promote companies that are just a promise rather than a proved success.
“Since mid-2017 most high-end projects have been connected to some top tier VC. Several of these projects launched with VC funding, but without the simplest form of technology and only a whitepaper,” adds Daniel Schwartzkopff, CEO of Invictus Capital, “This is contrary to how VCs traditionally functioned with the mindset of ‘prove me your product, and I will speculate on adoption.”
VC funds have continuously evolved over time, as new changes emerge in the financial landscape. And while the blockchain does provide some important improvements, such as democratizing VC firms and opening them up to more investors than before, the question still remains what will happen to those VC firms if as some people predict, the crypto and blockchain market will not blossom once more.
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