Latest news with #CarrieOsman
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Lack of liquidity' the key factor in decline of the LSE
A lack of liquidity due to a relatively low appetite for investment in the UK is the main factor behind the decline of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), according to a commercial growth expert. Speaking on an episode of GlobalData's Instant Insights podcast, Carrie Osman, founder and CEO of growth consultancy Cruxy, suggested there are a range of factors behind companies choosing to list elsewhere or delisting, including some structural, but that, in her view, liquidity is the main issue. 'It doesn't have the liquidity, it doesn't have the buoyancy, and it doesn't, quite frankly, attract the most innovative technologies to list in London because of the fact that there doesn't seem to be the appetite from an investment pool to provide the liquidity that obviously some of these founders or private equity firms are looking for,' Osman said. 'Ultimately, you're looking for people to back your concept or idea, and you're looking for them to believe in that with their money to buy shares in your company and say, 'Yes, I believe that you're going to make me a lot of money. Let's go long here.' I was looking at some facts, and I thought it's very interesting that, for example, in the UK, about 23% of adults have stocks and shares. When we compare that to the US, it's 62%.' Osman was speaking following the announcement that Qualcomm has acquired UK-based semiconductor company Alphawave Semi, resulting in another high-profile departure from the LSE. She pointed to that deal as just one example of the challenges facing the LSE but noted that it wasn't just the UK exchange facing such issues. 'When you look at Europe as a whole, I think [there are] 183 European listings, and only about 15% of those are listed in their home turf,' she said. 'So, I think it probably is kind of far and wide when you look at Europe as a whole.' Osman believes the lesser culture for investing in the UK compared to the US – where individuals are exposed to investing through the 401(k) retirement savings plan – is limiting the potential of the LSE. 'How could you encourage people to kind of play an active role in the market?' she said. 'Maybe teach them about the market, teach them about stocks, teach them about trading. And then, of course, maybe there are ways that we could use tax incentives to encourage either companies or, of course, employees to be able to feel like they can invest in the markets without feeling like it's so much of a risk.' 'It always feels like it's less of a risk to just stick your money in an ISA and fingers crossed the Bank of England doesn't reduce the rate too much. That was how I was brought up. I think it would be amazing to think that there's a way to encourage more slight risk taking but with a bit of a support layer there so that people feel they can invest in our country and invest in some of our great assets.' Osman also pointed to the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) as a means of encouraging investment. Per the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, 'PISCES is a new type of private stock market that will give investors more opportunities to buy stakes in growing companies.' 'If I own shares in a company, I can trade those shares without listing it publicly, so that there'll be these kind of trading windows,' Osman explained. 'So, I can trade those shares, and an asset manager can buy them all. But the thing that concerns me about that is that it's only secondaries, so it's only certain people they decide can do that, who are professional investors, whatever that means. 'And who decides the price? Is this just regulation? All the positive consequences, but it ends up with a lot of regulation on regulation, and it ends up with a lot of complexity? I'm worried that that could end up being a lot of positive intent, but maybe it doesn't lead to that outcome of driving liquidity that they would hope.' "'Lack of liquidity' the key factor in decline of the LSE" was originally created and published by Investment Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Entrepreneur
23-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Challenging the Status Quo
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Carrie Osman's journey is one of perseverance, maverick thinking, and a deep-seated belief in the value of hard work. As the founder and CEO of London based Cruxy, a growth intelligence consultancy, Carrie's success story stands as a beacon for those looking to disrupt the UK's often risk-averse startup culture. Founded 11 years ago, Cruxy emerged out of frustration with the generic, one-size-fits-all consultancy models that Carrie saw dominating the industry. With no external funding, she grew the business into a data-driven consultancy serving global private equity giants. Today, over 70% of Cruxy's revenue comes from the US, proving that, despite its roots in the UK, the company's focus on precision and execution has international appeal. But Carrie's journey was far from smooth. In fact, the path to success has been anything but easy. The relentless road to growth Carrie's biggest challenge, she says, was "growth and getting a foothold within the market" - something she admits is particularly tough in the UK. "No one tells you how relentless it is - especially in the UK, where trust is earned inch by inch. I went from corporate boardrooms to 5 a.m. starts at tech events, living back in my childhood bedroom, knocking on doors that took years to open," she reflects. For Carrie, the battle was not only about making a name for herself, but also about cultivating a mindset that could withstand the pressures of starting a business in an ecosystem that often favours caution over risk. "What got me through? Radical candour, maverick thinking, and an unshakeable belief that success is 95% perspiration. I embraced being relentlessly persistent - what I call a rhino against a marble wall—and built a culture around me that balances exacting standards with genuine care." This resilience, she believes, was key to overcoming the hurdles that come with sales and the other challenges that followed. For Carrie, the personal and professional sacrifices she made were worth it in the long run. Spotting the opportunity Carrie credits her success to her ability to spot a gap in the market - a need for "precision, data-led growth intelligence in B2B tech." She knew from the start that she wasn't interested in offering generic advice. Cruxy was born out of her frustration with large consultancies that were all too willing to offer broad, vague strategies, but didn't focus on execution. "The opportunity was in going deep, not broad," she says. Carrie's ability to focus on depth rather than breadth has been a core principle that's guided Cruxy's growth. This niche approach - coupled with her data-driven methods - set Cruxy apart from the competition and made it an attractive choice for private equity firms looking for real, measurable results. Lessons learned along the way Looking back, Carrie wishes she had known earlier that the UK startup ecosystem is one that often "rewards credibility and caution far more than conviction and boldness." While this might be a characteristic of the more traditional UK business environment, she believes it slowed her initial progress. "I spent years proving myself when, in hindsight, I could have focused earlier on US markets that value pace and outcomes over pedigree," she admits. This realisation speaks to a deeper truth about the difference between the UK and US startup ecosystems. While the UK often prioritises long-standing credibility, the US market values the speed of execution and tangible outcomes. If she could do it all over again, Carrie believes that focusing on international expansion earlier would have allowed her business to scale even faster. Advice for new founders As a founder who has lived through the ups and downs of building a business from the ground up, Carrie offers invaluable advice to those starting their own ventures. "Play the long game, but don't mistake patience for passivity. Be relentless. Build depth over breadth. And don't be afraid to challenge 'how things are done' - especially in the UK, where tradition can stifle innovation." For Carrie, challenging the status quo and embracing boldness in the face of uncertainty has been central to Cruxy's success. The path to success is never easy, but as she has proven, with grit, resilience, and a commitment to doing things differently, founders can carve out their own space in the market. Cruxy's story is one of bootstrapping success, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to breaking the mould in the face of adversity. Carrie Osman's journey offers a powerful lesson for entrepreneurs everywhere: that with relentless perseverance, maverick thinking, and a focus on precision, even the most audacious ideas can flourish.
