Latest news with #ventureCapital
Entrepreneur
7 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
American Capital to Continue Flowing into India: Reports
American VC continues to be a key contributor to this trend, with US-based private equity giants like Blackstone planning a USD 25 billion India PE portfolio over five years, citing the country's stable regulations and immense growth in digital infrastructure. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. According to a Bain & Company – IVCA report, India's private equity and venture capital (PE‑VC) ecosystem rebounded in 2024, crossing USD 43 billion across 1,600 deals, a solid 9 per cent year‑on‑year increase after two years of decline. The report attributed the rebound to being largely driven by robust investments in the digital space, fintech, and healthtech sectors. American VC continues to be a key contributor to this trend, with US-based private equity giants like Blackstone planning a USD 25 billion India PE portfolio over five years, citing the country's stable regulations and immense growth in digital infrastructure. At an earlier IVCA Summit held in Mumbai, Mukesh Mehta, Senior Director, Blackstone, said that valuations in the IPO market were double what the PE market offered. Manish Kejriwal, founder and managing partner at Kedaara Capital, predicted that the second half of 2025 will be a buyer's market and deal flow should accelerate, as reported by Reuters. The remarks underscore US-backed capital's belief in India's growth potential, even if public exit routes slow down. VC and growth investments surged by approximately 40 per cent, clocking 14 billion, driven by a sharp increase in deal volumes. The number of VC deals rose from 880 in 2023 to 1,270 in 2024, with a 2x jump in consumer tech funding to approximately USD 6 billion. In contrast, PE investments remained steady at USD 29 billion, as funds contended with higher valuations driven by buoyant public markets. Furthermore, India became the Asia-Pacific region's second-largest PE-VC destination with a 20 per cent share of total investment, displaying growing investor confidence in the country's macroeconomic stability. Karan Agarwal, Director, Wilson & Hughes, said that India's IPO landscape in 2025 reflects a more measured and mature ecosystem. "We're seeing founders treat the public markets as a long-term partnership, not just an exit. There's a clear shift from chasing sky-high valuations to prioritising governance, profitability, and market fit. For investors, this signals a healthier pipeline of companies that are built to last, not just list. It's a positive sign for India's capital markets and the broader entrepreneurial economy," said Agarwal. In 2024, U.S.-backed funds fueled a rebound, contributing to the overall USD 43-56 billion flow. While Q1 2025 brought a slight dip, seasoned US. Investors remain bullish on opportunities across fintech, deeptech, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn joins advisory board of women-led Athena Capital
One of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history is bringing her focus on female representation to venture capital. Skier Lindsey Vonn has joined the advisory board of New York-based Athena Capital, a venture capital firm focused on growth-stage, technology-focused companies nearing public or private exits. The firm, which is set to announce the appointment on Friday, manages about US$6-billion and is composed entirely of women across its general partnership and advisory council. Ms. Vonn is one of the most successful alpine skiers in history, winning three Olympic medals – including gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games – along with 82 World Cup race victories and four overall World Cup titles. She retired in 2019 with the most World Cup wins by any woman at the time. The racing legend adds profile to a sector where women remain underrepresented in both capital allocation and leadership roles. Globally, startups founded solely by women received 2.1 per cent of venture capital funding in 2023, according to a study published last month by the Founders Forum Group. In the U.S., companies with at least one female founder secured 25 per cent of venture funding, but those led exclusively by women captured just 3 per cent. A 2024 report by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub estimates that women-led startups in Canada received about 4 per cent of venture capital funding in 2023. Athena's general partnership and advisory council comprise more than 45 women with backgrounds in growth-stage investing, company building, and executive leadership. Ms. Vonn, who has held corporate board roles and completed a venture capital internship, will advise Athena on investor outreach and fundraising. Her perspective is aimed at strengthening the firm's push to back ambitious companies and outperform in a space that's still not always inclusive, the company said.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Yale nears deal to sell $2.5 billion of private equity stakes, Bloomberg News reports
June 4 (Reuters) - Yale University is finalizing the sale of up to $2.5 billion of its private equity and venture capital assets, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. The Ivy League school's endowment is in advanced talks on the portfolio sale, code-named "Project Gatsby," with an overall discount expected to be less than 10%, Bloomberg News reported citing people familiar with the matter. In April, Reuters reported that Yale was exploring a sale of private equity fund interests and was being advised by investment banking firm Evercore (EVR.N), opens new tab. The sale discussions includes a so-called mosaic deal that allows buyers to cherry-pick specific investment funds they would like to acquire, and multiple buyers, including Lexington Partners and HarbourVest Partners, have assessed the portfolio, Bloomberg said. Yale University and Lexington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HarbourVest declined to comment.
The National
7 days ago
- Business
- The National
Why Abu Dhabi-based VC fund EQIQ is betting big on Iraq's tech start-ups
When Mohamed Al Hakim walked into his boss's office in London in the summer of 2014 to submit his resignation, the TV was playing live coverage of ISIS fighters conquering major cities in Iraq 's north and west. His boss's eyes darted between Mr Al Hakim and the screen, struggling to make sense of what he was hearing. 'Are you sure you want to go to Iraq?' Mr Al Hakim recalls his boss's astonished question. Yes. 'Are you sure you're not going to join the fight – on either side?', the boss continued. A firm no. Three months later, Mr Al Hakim left the stability of a real estate career in London to return to his native Iraq – a country spiralling into chaos at that time – to start his own business from scratch. It was not a hasty move; he had contemplated it for two years. Eleven years on, that leap of faith has paid off. Today, Mr Al Hakim is the co-founder of the Abu Dhabi-based EQIQ, an Iraq-focused venture capital fund and venture builder, that is playing a major role in the country's burgeoning entrepreneurship scene. From FinTech and e-commerce to logistics, Iraqi tech-savvy entrepreneurs are reshaping how people shop, pay and do business. They are helping drive Iraq's digital transformation as the country emerges from decades of war and instability. Specific data on the size of the entrepreneurship sector in Iraq and how much it contributes to the local economy are not available. However, according to global start-up research platform StartupBlink, Iraq's entrepreneurship scene has improved with the country moving up one spot on its global ranking for 2025 to 118. It currently holds the 11th position in the Middle East. Baghdad is also among the top 1,000 cities in the world in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, with annual growth of 64.3 per cent, StartupBlink said. I returned to Iraq to make a difference in the private sector and build something meaningful Mohamed Al Hakim, co-founder of Abu Dhabi-based EQIQ 'Iraq is a promising market and fertile ground that needs many services and projects,' Mr Al Hakim, 36, tells The National at his office in one of Baghdad's newly built high-rise commercial buildings. In 1998, his family left Iraq to move to Sweden, where his father had settled two years earlier. They joined a tide of migrants who fled Saddam Hussein 's dictatorial regime and harsh UN-imposed economic sanctions that followed his invasion on Kuwait. In 2008, he moved to the UK. Mr Al Hakim launched his first venture in the tech space at 15, followed by two other ventures, at ages 17 and 19, before graduating from university. With a bachelor's degree in Economics, he started a career in investment banking with Goldman Sachs in 2010 and also worked with GreenOak Real Estate before transitioning to entrepreneurship. In Iraq, he cofounded several ventures, including Ideal Financial Services, which created a digital wallet for the country's largest money transfer company and Zain Iraq Islamic Bank, focused on financial inclusion through digital banking. In 2018, he set up and led Careem's operations in Iraq and later also served as the chief executive for its company's operations in Jordan and Iraq, until he left to establish EQIQ. In January 2023, EQIQ completed its first close, raising $15 million from a consortium of local and regional investors. To date, the fund has deployed $8.5 million in five tech-focused ventures, including social commerce start-up, Fedshi, logistics app Boxy, e-commerce platform Wayl and edtech company Corrsy. The fifth is a digital bank that is not yet operational. EQIQ has committed to lead the funding round and take a 20 per cent stake in it. Now, EQIQ is doubling its fund size from $15 million to $30 million to deepen its investments in Iraq's digital economy. It aims to close the fund raise by the end of this year. 'The first $15 million was a market test,' Mr Al Hakim says. 'We saw very positive results, so we are expanding the fund's size to explore even greater opportunities in Iraq,' he added, saying that they are in talks with local and foreign investors. 'Today is best time in the 11 years I've spent in Iraq in terms in security and political stability which has positively impacted the entrepreneurship environment,' he said. He aims to increase the financial returns to investors by 10 folds in the next five years. Iraq is one of the most oil-dependent countries in the world. Oil revenue have accounted for more than 90 per cent of the government's budget. Successive governments have been struggling with overcoming the high unemployment rate and diversifying economic growth. The country has a rapidly growing population, with the youth accounting for at least half of its nearly 45 million people. The unprecedented political and security stability in the country over the past few years has encouraged authorities to launch a series of infrastructure projects and introduce reforms to improve the business environment. However, red tape, corruption and lack of modern laws still pose significant obstacles. 'In general, the country has changed over the past two years,' he said. However, several challenges are still there, including that there is no law for establishing ventures in Iraq and that's the reason for setting EQIQ up in Abu Dhabi's ADGM, he added. Others are the lack of data, mainly on the economy, and a limitation foreign company share in any Iraqi company that must not exceed 49 per cent. "I returned to Iraq to make a difference in the private sector and build something meaningful," he said. "Today, we have the opportunity to start where others left off. We can adopt latest technologies and updates, and begin at an advanced stage."
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Rise Of Women-Owned Businesses But Without The Riches
The Rise Of Women-Owned Businesses But Without The Riches Women are starting businesses at an unprecedented rate, from side hustles to full time businesses, and we are seeing a powerful shift. It's an exciting time for women, especially Gen X and Millennial women, who are choosing entrepreneurship over traditional employment. But there is a problem among women business owners. Despite the surge in business ownership, only 1.9 percent of women-owned businesses ever cross $1 million in annual revenue. This is a tragic statistic, and too many brilliant, capable women are suffering because of it. So why is this happening? It's not because women aren't ambitious or strategic. It's because the system isn't built for us to scale. From funding barriers to mindset roadblocks, there are structural issues that keep women playing small in business. And it's time for change. Not solely for the sake of equity, but because the economy needs more women building wealth through business ownership. Nothing bad happens when women have more money. While women are launching businesses in record numbers, several key barriers prevent them from scaling: This is the biggest hurdle women face when trying to grow their businesses. Women receive a tiny fraction of venture capital and struggle to access business loans and angel investments, despite running profitable and innovative businesses. The lack of cash available limits the ability to hire, run marketing campaigns, and build the systems needed for growth. Women are then forced to bootstrap and that slows down the speed of growth and their potential as a business. Without scalable operations and automation in place, the growth of a business hits a ceiling. Scaling requires building a business that runs without the owner doing it all, however women have been conditioned to do it all. And without the capital to expand their business, women have no choice but to do it all. Business owners have been conditioned to chase revenue believing that it's the ultimate marker of success. But revenue alone does not build wealth. You need a clear understanding of profit margins, cash flow and profit drivers. It's easy to chase bigger revenue numbers while making less profit, and this revenue over profit mindset can lead to financial struggles and burnout. Profit is what fuels sustainable growth and financial freedom. Women have been taught to play small. We are told to be agreeable and modest, and that mindset often follows into business. Many women hold back on their pricing or going after big deals and showing up competitively in the market because it is frowned upon. And to make money is viewed as greedy and unlikeable for women. These beliefs quietly sabotage the financial success of women. If more women are to break past the million-dollar mark, we need to normalize financial ambition among women. Wanting to build wealth should be celebrated, not shamed. And it starts with shifting the narrative that wealth isn't selfish, and ambition isn't arrogance. Women deserve to make money, grow empires, and take up space in the business world unapologetically. Women also need real support. Access to capital must be reformed and more funding should be directed to women. Real change won't happen unless the gatekeepers, who are primarily men, step up. Since men still hold the majority of decision-making power, they must take responsibility for reforming the system. The burden should not fall solely on the women to fix a funding gap that they did not create. The bottom line is that the fact that only 1.9 percent of women owned businesses reach $1 million in revenue should be a wakeup call. As women continue to start and grow businesses, now is the time to provide the resources needed to grow and scale their businesses. Profit isn't a dirty word and there is no shame in financial ambition. We need to stop applauding survival and start investing in women.
