Muslims are projected to constitute more than 25% of the world's total population this year. To many in the industry, this isn't just a statistic; it represents a vast array of opportunities for the markets.This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Fara Abdullah, CEO of Bitsmedia, the brains behind the immensely popular Muslim lifestyle app, Muslim Pro. With a fresh injection of $20 million from its recent Series A funding round, featuring participation from Gobi Partners, alongside continued backing from existing investors CMI Capital Partners and Bintang Capital Partners, Bitsmedia is poised to enhance the faith experience through cutting-edge technologies. Our discussion today delves into various aspects, including the business landscape, the potential in faith-driven markets, and the interception of faith, finance, and technology. TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro02:52 - Market opportunities in the Muslim community; Bitsmedia’s business model07:39 - Challenging the misconceptions and templatization of Muslims10:49 - Thesis behind the 160 million annual downloads of Muslim Pro: faith in challenging times and the modern Muslim lifestyle15:13 - Bitsmedia’s ideal consumer profile and the growth of user base20:30 - Business models and the biggest revenue drive for Bitsmedia24:11 - Decision making and resource distribution as the CEO26:52 - The role of technology in shaping faith and vice versa30:31 - The idea of moderation and ethical interpretations with use of technologies32:41 - Bitsmedia’s role in the interception of faith, finance and technology34:35 - Observed trends of religious behaviors and attitudes; the socialization of faith37:01 - Fundraising and choosing the right partners39:46 - Billion dollar questionsABOUT BITSMEDIABitsmedia is a Singapore-based, technology company known globally as the developer and publisher of the Muslim Pro app – a highly-rated and comprehensive Muslim lifestyle app with more than 150 million downloads globally to date.The company is also the publisher of Qalbox, a global subscription video on demand (SVoD) entertainment streaming service aimed at the global Muslim community. About Muslim ProMuslim Pro's journey started with its inception as a utility app dedicated to fulfilling the daily spiritual and practical needs of Muslims worldwide. Under Fara's guidance, Muslim Pro has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from its original utility focus to become a pioneering platform catering to the diverse facets of the Muslim community.Fara's strategic foresight has been vital to transitioning Muslim Pro into a holistic ecosystem for Muslims. Beyond spiritual and religious guidance, the platform now encompasses educational resources, AI-driven tools, and robust partnerships with key enablers, brands, and organizations within the Muslim sector.-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

“We believe an inclusive and optimal asset management industry will be the cornerstone of an equal and equitable future.” - Illumen CapitalWhile organizations explore ways to embody diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), authenticity and clear, measurable outcomes are essential for effectiveness. This week, we're joined by Joanna Kuang, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Impact at Illumen Capital. We delve into the significance of impact investing and strategies to ensure tangible efforts are made to drive meaningful change in venture, in our society.TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro02:18 - Joanna’s backstory as the daughter of immigrants; living experience in Mississippi Delta that drove her to join Illumen Capital04:02 - Genesis of Illumen Capital as a fund of funds05:42 - Study alongside Stanford SPARQ: Race influences professional investors’ financial judgments (2019)09:16 - Diversity efforts in venture today; DEI policies13:10 - Quantitative data to drive accountability; best practices to remove biases in pitching and diligence processes18:06 - Illumen Capital’s stand under the backdrop of many anti-DEI laws21:19 - Diversity drives performance: investment strategies and performance measurements24:41 - Established and emerging managers as the next key strategy for Illumen Capital28:18 - Portfolio construction as a fund of funds and ticket sizes30:42 - The winning factors versus common mistakes in diverse fund managers; impact washing32:47 - Looking ahead 2024 private market; advice for fund managers35:38 - Billion Dollar Questions-About Illumen CapitalIllumen Capital is an impact fund of funds addressing systemic inequity by reducing racial and gender bias in investing.Working closely with the world’s leading social psychologists at Stanford SPARQ, they combine investment capital with evidence-based tools and training designed to reduce implicit racial and gender bias in order to unlock latent return and multiply impact.More about Illumen Capital: https://www.illumencapital.com-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

Berkshire Hathaway and the famed investor Warren Buffett himself are often the topic of discussion when it comes to achieving success in the world of venture. Nevertheless, despite the almost unassuming marketing strategies compared to today’s eye-catching everything, Berkshire Hathaway illustrated incomparable strategic marketing that yielded loyalty and reputation.This inspired today's Billion Dollar Bite, where we delve into the topic of strategic marketing and how us in the venture world can learn a thing or two.Ross Simmonds is the founder of today's leading content marketing firm, Foundation. Ross leads the team at Foundation, specializing in helping B2B and SaaS brands build content marketing engines that generate millions of visits a year, resulting in millions worth of new business.We covered a range of topics from A.I. and marketing reskilling your workforce to breaking down some amazing case studies from billion-dollar businesses like MasterClass and Berkshire Hathaway. TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro2:47 - AI for marketer; takes on AI replacing marketer’s job6:24 - Biggest lessons from MasterClass: building around Google search intent10:33 - MasterClass’ marketing strategy12:18 - Glassdoor’s content creation and SEO strategies13:33 - Leveraging AI, the best approach to expand globally as B2B business16:36 - Mr.Beast; Berkshire Hathaway; should all businesses be creators?19:11 - Leaders as the voices on platform like LinkedIn21:32 - Content creation in leadership position is a waste of time?23:30 - How do we engage with public reaction on social media?24:42 - Takes on nonpolitical versus political leader; common mistakes made by companies on social initiatives28:00 - Billion dollar questions-About Ross SimmondsA marketer, keynote speaker, SaaS & B2B tech investor, writer and the CEO of Foundation. Ross is multitalented and devoted his work to help, inspire and teach the underdogs of the world how to use research, creation, distribution and optimization to unlock new levels of growth and opportunities.Ross’ content marketing agency, Foundation, offers content marketing services to a diverse clientele spanning the globe. We’ve worked some of the most successful SaaS companies in the world and work as partners for multiple publicly traded cloud companies who have redefined entire industries. More about Ross and Foundation: https://rosssimmonds.com/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

In venture capital, pattern recognition is a valuable skill. Investors often analyze various pieces of a puzzle, employing pattern recognition to assess whether a company might be on the path to success.This week’s Billion Dollar Bite features Leah Barto, Senior Director of Research at Endeavor Global, who leads a team to redefine pattern recognition through the lens of data journalism.Endeavor has dedicated its mission to uncover unicorns worldwide, employing a data-driven approach and producing a comprehensive study titled “Where Do Unicorns Come From?”We’ve discussed the intriguing findings of this robust research, unveiling the factors that drive entrepreneurial ecosystems to thrive, and challenging stereotypes about what success should look like. You won't want to miss this!Timestamps/ Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro2:15 - Endeavor’s mission, data journalism, “Where Do Unicorns Come From?” & the multiplier effect in startup ecosystems5:37 - Takeaway #1: Educational backgrounds & debunking the myth of the elite educational pedigree.6:29 - Takeaway #2: Entrepreneurial experience & age 7:58 - Takeaway #3: Global citizens - mostly with a migration background & advice for funders9:35 - Takeaway #4: Pattern recognition - backgrounds and innovation made by unicorn founders from US versus emerging markets11:30 - Takeaway #5: Solution to underrepresentation of female founders14:33 - Takeaway #6: Hande Cilingir’s success story16:32 - Takeaway #7: Scaling & paying it forward About Endeavor InsightEndeavor Insight is the research division of Endeavor that provides data-driven analysis and visualizations showing what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive. Our research team of economists, data scientists, and policy analysts specialize in understanding the needs of high-impact entrepreneurs and evaluating the networks that enable them to scale and pay it forward.Where Do Unicorns Come From?Link: https://endeavor.org/unicornpathways-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

This week's guest is Samir Kaji, a prolific writer and host of Venture Unlocked, a podcast and blog that dives into the inner workings of venture capital, and the CEO and co-founder of Allocate. With over 20 years of experience in VC and private equity ecosystem, Samir's work has guided many investors, entrepreneurs, and fund managers on how to navigate and succeed in the private markets. Our conversation covers everything from the scale of private wealth funding, venture capital to the explosion of emerging managers and why the track record trap is one we need to be mindful of. Whether you are a GP, LP, or founder tuning in, this episode is full of gems.TIMESTAMP / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro2:54 - Who is Samir Kaji?04:41 - How are banks different moving forward in 2024; interest rate and the end of ZIRP era09:49 - Allocate: to provide opportunities to private markets & to invest with more visibility and transparency13:34 - Business model of Allocate; bridging venture gap or beyond?17:00 - Trends in venture from 2022 onwards21:23 - How should LPs be thinking about misinformation of performance; portfolio construction as LPs27:45 - Generating alphas and diversifying networks32:49 - The track record trap; Pejman, Pear VC 36:54 - Fundraising, building enduring franchise and common mistakes of emerging managers; Kirsten Green, Forerunners40:55 - Diversity in the realm of venture42:30 - Predictions for 202444:46 - Billion dollar questions-About AllocateAlternative investments have become a growing staple in investor portfolios as investors continue to seek better portfolio diversification and higher returns. However investing in and alongside the most promising venture funds is primarily limited to institutional investors and industry insiders. We are here to change that. Allocate is a digital investment platform that provides all types of investors with a programmatic and efficient way to discover and invest in high quality emerging and established venture capital funds, while providing fund managers with a streamlined way to access the fragmented private wealth market.  -PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

This week we had not one but two esteemed guests - a funder and his founder of choice to talk through everything from building trust and partnership to getting to that IPO.Featuring Somak Chattopadhyay, founder of Armory Square Ventures, and Vikas Mehta, COO of ACV Auctions. Their paths beautifully overlapped after their MIT days when Somak recognized ACV's potential in B2B automobile marketplaces and recruited Vikas to lead the operation.The rest is history, but in today’s episode, we delve deep into how Somak identifies potential in companies like ACV and, alongside Vikas, continues to drive value and scale to today, one of the most exciting marketplaces that investors are closely watching on the NASDAQ.TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 Intro3:00 Where the paths crossed: Somak’s journey with Armory Square Ventures; and Vikas’s prior to ACV Auctions7:55 Takeaway 1: How did Somak identified and surfaced ACV as a tech unicorn11:34 Vikas saying yes to Somak’s pitch on ACV Auctions15:31 Takeaway 2: Breaking down business model of ACV Auctions from digitalising to scaling; “it was basically to get a level of trust and transparency on the asset that was previously unimaginable,”21:07 Takeaway 3: Bringing in mentor who guides and fits well with the team and hiring the best talent25:10 Takeaway 4: Adding value versus overstepping your bounds as a VC28:11 Takeaway 5: Navigating through pandemic and building infrastructure under hyper growth30:57 Takeaway 6: “What else could we do to leapfrog everyone else“; building and maturing a system that fills the industry gap36:24 Takeaway 7: Vikas’ reflection: be more risk taking and hiring key unlockers of acceleration at early stage37:53 Takeaway 8: Somak’s reflection: every time frame is different and about false positives on people39:49 Looking forward #1: the automotive industry in 202440:46 Looking forward #2: 2024 as the best vintage year?42:41 Takeaway 9: Vikas to founders: "How the world is predicted to be is rarely how it ends up being"43:49 Takeaway 10: Somak: "Don't rely on zoom and teams or whichever tool you have as a crush for everything" -PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

“If you can show strong growth in this environment, that means you’re getting corporate budgets at a time when corporate budgets are tightening.”As we continue to emerge from the belt-tightening era in investment and venture, now is an opportune moment to revisit an episode featuring Momei Qu, Managing Director of PSP Growth.Momei carved her own path in leadership, having worked with one of the trailblazers, the esteemed Penny Pritzker, former United States Secretary of Commerce and American billionaire businesswoman known for family investments in Hyatt Hotels and Marmon Group.Today, Momei, who leads PSP's venture capital and growth equity initiative, shares her leadership lessons, from collaborating with a trailblazer to building a robust venture and growth practice and focusing on the future of B2B SaaS despite the valuation slashes we've witnessed.TIMESTAMPS / KEYTAKEAWAYS0:00 Intro0:55 Recognizing the gap in commercializing technology2:40 Joining Merrill Lynch and stepping into venture06:01 Skillset as both engineer and venture investor; upbringing and exposure to deals8:10 Working with Penny Pritzker's private investment group; “If you don't ask for something, you might not get it.”12:28 PSP’s collaborative strategies: ventures, multi-family and industrial properties, private equity, etc; “I've been pleasantly surprised, the unexpected piece of how collaborative everyone has been, and how much better it has been to unlock the power of the whole platform.”17:07 Takes on allocation and balancing investments for family offices19:11 Investing in adversed time and building a robust venture practice; on me too companies21:28 Solutions that go hand in hand with the market and the focus on B2B SaaS 24:44 Notable patterns in SaaS27:42 Takes on B2B SaaS application and AI technologies: security and responsibilities30:50 Takes on founder’s limits and ethics in AI tech innovation32:45 Diligence as an investor34:24 Billion Dollar Questions𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 is THE show for the audacious next-gen leaders. Unfiltered. Personal. Inspirational. Tune in to learn from world's foremost funders and founders, and their unicorn journey in the dynamic world of venture and business.From underestimated to iconic, YOU too, can make #billiondollarmoves — in venture, in business, in life.PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

Investing in women is the smartest thing you could do right now. Erin Harkless Moore, Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures, a company founded by Melinda French Gates to promote social equity in the realm of investment, eloquently expressed this notion with her work.Whereas in numerous regions across the globe today, it's surprising to consider that such a statement could be contentious. However, we must stand firm: progress is never linear.This week, we're revisiting Erin's episode from last year, delving into discussions ranging from the mission of Pivotal Ventures and her investment strategy to understanding why Melinda French Gates continues to invest $1 billion in women. TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 Intro02:50 Takeaway 1: on Pivotal Ventures and driving societal change06:43 Takeaway 2: Investment in diversity initiatives under attack - what are the solutions?11:32 Takeaway 3: Melinda French Gate’s $1B commitment, investment strategies & getting to a 'yes' as an LPFull Episode with Erin:🎙️Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/bdm-pivotal🎞️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/rlnpoq9bgH8About Pivotal VenturesPivotal ventures engage in strategic investments in funds and early-stage companies, aiming to accelerate social progress by putting more capital in the hands of women and people of color, unlocking new market-based solutions to social problems, and demonstrating that historically under-resourced founders and investors deliver market returns.Learn more about Pivotal Ventures:Pivotal Ventures | A Melinda French Gates CompanyInvesting | Pivotal VenturesBreaking With TraditionMelinda Gates: Here's Why I'm Committing $1 Billion to Promote Gender Equality-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

This week's episode features Allen Taylor, managing partner at Endeavor Catalyst, one of the earliest supporters at the Billion Dollar Fund for Women (now Beyong The Billion). Allen also sits on the global leadership team at Endeavor, a mission driven organization focused on supporting high growth companies in emerging and underserved markets.We discuss everything from how Reid Hoffman inspired the design of a rules-based fund that in its beta already made LPs eight times their money on an 8.5x DPI to his personal journey with Endeavor to have grown to support over 2,000 high impact entrepreneurs all over the world.Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 Intro02:47 The beginning of Allen’s journey with Endeavor04:49 Takeaway 1: Endeavor’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit business model - top down and bottom up approaches10:29 Takeaway 2: What it means to build a firm and a franchise13:32 Takeaway 3: Backing talented founder in emerging markets19:57 Takeaway 4: Endeavor's rule-based fund & selection criteria22:48 Takeaway 5: Takes on “copycat models” 26:40 Takeaway 6: The secret formula to making a mark in underserved markets30:54 Takeaway 7: Emerging markets landscape for 2024 33:16 Billion Dollar Questions-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

"It's probably not a good idea to overlook female CEOs or Black CEOs. Because they're driving an enormous amount of value in business. And you overlook it at your own expense." - Iman Abuzeid, Co-founder & CEO of Incredible HealthThis week's Billion Dollar Bite is from an event held in Austin, hosted by Beyond the Billion and Brown Advisory, among a crowd of family offices and other investors. Featuring Iman Abuzeid, who upon raising her 80 million Series B funding round, valued her healthcare career marketplace startup at $1.65 billion.Iman exists in rarified air: she is one of only a handful of Black female founders to run a company valued at more than $1 billion. And yet! Rejection, inequality, and leadership pitfalls remain a reoccurring theme in her journey.Tune in as we covered a few topics from fundraising, shifting mindsets to focusing on the fundamentals in a challenging environment.Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 Intro2:08 Takeaway 1: Rejection is the norm2:49 Takeaway 2: Fundraising tips: be very selective about who you pursue 3:28 Takeaway 3: Fundraising tips: Focus on your vision and mission despite the stats4:19 Takeaway 4: Financing strategies are personal decisions5:02 Takeaway 5: Focusing on the fundamentals: market and strategy7:23 Takeaway 6: A common mistake among leaders: the people-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalInstagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalTwitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal