The EIS Navigator 114 Comparing hardware and software investing in venture capital with Matt Jellicoe of OnePlanetCapital
While software may not eat the world, sometimes it seems like it has eaten the venture industry. However, hardware has its merits too. Climatetech investor OnePlanetCapital invests in both, so CEO Matt Jellicoe is well placed to compare them.
Amongst other topics, we talk about:
- finding skilled teams for hardware companies
- building and scaling hardware companies
- sources of IP and protecting it
- whether to work with partners or not
- where the real challenges in supply chains are
- dealing with cash requirements at different stages
- the support available in the UK for hardware
- how climatetech products need to be no-brainers
- getting good gross margins
- scaling climatetech companies
Matt brings great insights with deep use of several real life examples to make his points clearer. Enjoy!
00:45 Matt introduces himself and OnePlanetCapital
03:15 Framing hardware vs software
07:00 Finding skilled teams
12:00 Sources of IP and protecting it
15:30 How partners affect options for exit
18:10 Supply chains - where the real challenges are
21:15 Timescales for hardware vs software
24:00 How technology is affecting development times
26:15 Cash requirements at different stages
27:30 InnovateUK, grants and support within the UK
30:30 Funding at later stages
33:00 The need for climatic products to be no-brainers
36:15 Getting good gross margins
38:00 Challenges of bringing climatetech solutions to market at scale
40:30 Are the trends still going in the right direction? Effect of venture bubble
44:00 favourite questions
Links
OnePlanetCapital website: https://www.oneplanet.capital/
Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listen
Suggested books and media
Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Bio
Matt Jellicoe
CEO, OnePlanetCapital
After a corporate career in public companies, Matthew founded and successfully exited two technology businesses in 2012 and 2018 respectively. He has been an active technology investor since 2012 and serves as a Non-Executive Director for two technology businesses. In more recent years he has specialised in sustainable investments.
Matt Jellicoe is one of the founding directors of OnePlanet.Capital - a climate change focused EIS Investment Fund. The fund aims to combine strong investment returns with climate and environmental impact.
Disclaimer
Please note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.