Unlocking $500Bn Market Opportunity: Cybersecurity w/ Sidra Ahmed Lefort, Munich Re Ventures

Munich Re Ventures is the venture capital group of Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurance company and a leading global provider of primary insurance and insurance related resolutions. 

Now Munich Re Ventures is a billion plus platform that is financially driven while focusing on the strategic interests of Munich Re. In this episode, Sidra Ahmed Lefort, Investment Director, Munich Re Ventures, takes us on a deep dive into the landscape of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and health care.

Tune in to today’s episode to learn about everything from pricing mistakes VCs make, market trends, access, acquisitions on the ground, and how valuations and mindsets are shifting.

TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS

0:00 - Intro

02:15 - What makes Sidra changed the trajectory of her career

06:28 - What do investors from the East get wrong in investing in America?

08:30 - The dual mandate of EDBI; lessons learned from government’s technology investment strategy

11:08 - The structure and mandate of Munich Re Ventures; what works in the structure?

15:20 - Interest in adopting AI in cybersecurity and healthcare; market size for cyber

20:09 - Opportunities at the intersection of health tech and FinTech; Quantile Health

22:29 - The anti-portfolio: missing out on CrowdStrike

23:41 - Strategy for portfolio construction; follow-on funding

27:48 - Valuations in cyber and healthcare; how investors should be thinking about this investment cycle

31:01 - Exits landscape for cyber and healthcare

34:06 - What needs to change in venture? What is holding women from rising to the senior ranks?

36:05 - Billion Dollar Questions

About Sidra

Sidra focuses on cybersecurity, digital health, and insurtech opportunities globally. Previously, she was with the VC arm of Singapore Economic Development Board (EDBI). While at EDBI, she served on the board of directors of Gobalto (acquired by Oracle) and served as a board observer to Shape Security (acquired by F5), Livongo (NASDAQ: LVGO), and MetricStream. She joined EDBI from Nanostart, supporting investments in nanotechnology companies in Europe and Asia. Sidra started her technology-focused career in intellectual property at the National University of Singapore, where she played an instrumental role in identifying key technologies for the Life Science department. She received her degree in biomedical science from National University of Singapore and is based in San Francisco.

FOLLOW SIDRA:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidra-ahmed-lefort/ 

https://www.munichre.com/ 

https://edbi.com/

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