Yvonne Bajela: The importance of grit and insight to securing funding

Our guest is a partner at Local Globe and Latitude and a board member at Innovate Finance. Yvonne Bajela is a founding member and VP at Impact X Capital, a venture capital firm investing in companies led by underrepresented founders at the Seed and Series A stages.

Previously a Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co, she led over $200m in investments in companies including TransferWise, and has played a pivotal role in leading a wide range of investments in companies including Predina and Marshmallow while at Impact X.

Here's what we discussed:

• How did you get into investment? (01:05)
• Did you have role models growing up that were in the sector you work in now? (03:06)
• You were a Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co. and were the youngest investment manager across 90,000 global employees within the group. Have you ever been intimidated being in these positions or have you felt largely comfortable being in the roles you’ve been in? (05:05)
• What do you look for in a business when deciding to invest in it? (06:34)
• For companies you look to invest in, would you say the team is more important than the product or service itself? (07:47)
• What is the difference between a business that makes it and a business that doesn’t? (08:23)
• Do you see luck as a factor in the success of a business? (09:09)
• What questions should a business owner ask an investor to make sure that they are the right investor for them? (10:23)
• How can business owners grab the attention of investors? (11:35)
• Do you think being an extroverted business leader helps when it comes to gaining investment? (13:06)
• From your work with businesses, would you say there is a common flaw you might see come up time and again? (13:46)
• How do you think the investment space will change as a result of the global economic crisis? (14:57)
• How can businesses continue to achieve funding despite the economic conditions? (17:02)
• Why did you feel there was a need for a venture capital firm like Impact X Capital? (18:09)
• What implications does it have to not have more diverse people in investment? What does it mean for the business landscape of the future? (18:51)
• It's important for there to be investors from more diverse backgrounds. How can entrepreneurs or those from a finance background break into investment? (19:59)
• How have you dealt with failure? (20:59)
• Is there any particular factor that comes into play when a business fails? (22:16)
• From working with various business owners, what would you say is the most effective way to lead? (24:25)
• What kind of challenges can arise in a relationship between a business owner and an investor? (25:31)
• What is the benefit of having a company board? (27:39)
• What is the power of having a NED on your board? (29:27)
• Answer the Internet: Why do business owners need investors if they have a steady stream of revenue? (30:40)
• What makes a great business leader? (31:52)

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