Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital

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 TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro02:15 - What makes Sidra changed the trajectory of her career06:28 - 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 strategy11:08 - 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 cyber20:09 - Opportunities at the intersection of health tech and FinTech; Quantile Health22:29 - The anti-portfolio: missing out on CrowdStrike23:41 - Strategy for portfolio construction; follow-on funding27:48 - Valuations in cyber and healthcare; how investors should be thinking about this investment cycle31:01 - Exits landscape for cyber and healthcare34:06 - What needs to change in venture? What is holding women from rising to the senior ranks?36:05 - Billion Dollar QuestionsAbout SidraSidra 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/-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

Tubi is the most-watched free TV and movie streaming service in the U.S. to date, with the world's largest content library of over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of originals, and nearly 250 Fox channels.The powerhouse behind Tubi’s success is no stranger to the media industry: Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi. Prior to Tubi, Anjali led Vimeo to become a public company following its spin-off from Barry Diller's IAC Internet Conglomerate.When Anjali took over as CEO of Vimeo, she halted all prior initiatives to reinvent Vimeo as a software company serving the B2B market. Under her leadership, Vimeo achieved around $400 million in annual recurring revenue when she left.Now, as Anjali takes on the role of CEO at Tubi, will she apply the same strategic disruption to her leadership of Tubi? In this week’s episode, we discuss her rise to leadership, the role of media and culture, and much more.TIMESTAMP / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro03:14 - Who is Anjali Sud? Crucible moments that led Anjali onto entrepreneurial journey08:22 - Being rejected by investment banks; Anjali’s career path in her 20s and pivoting into media10:08 - Filling the market gap as Vimeo CEO; “I was willing to bet on myself and on the idea”12:21 - Vimeo’s transition from ad-free version of YouTube to B2B SaaS model; the challenges and how to see the “signals”18:06 - Vimeo going public as a spinoff; the tradeoffs of IPO21:38 - Anjali’s advice to CEOs getting ready to be listed or for an exit event; importance of revenue predictability23:44 - Changes are the only constant; growth strategies that worked for Vimeo25:40 - The virality opportunity and word of mouth26:31 - Anjali’s nine years in Vimeo and her transition to Tubi; “Media is going through significant disruption.”29:10 - The future of media and content; Tubi as the free entertainment for the cordless generation31:29 - The product-led mindset; strategy to combat stereotypes towards media ads33:49 - Quality content with cultural relevance amidst the competition for attention; Tubi original series: Boarders & Big Mood35:26 - The role of media and culture; influence of AI on media and content39:31 - Billion Dollar QuestionsAbout Anjali“I believe in the power of video. No other medium has the ability to bring stories to life in a deeply personal way, while simultaneously reaching every corner of the globe."Anjali Sud is an American businesswoman and technology and media executive. She is the CEO of Tubi, the entertainment platform and free ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox Corporation. Sud was previously CEO of Vimeo for six years, until August 2023.FOLLOW ANJALI:https://www.instagram.com/anjsud/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjali_Sudhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalisud-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 the age of AI and rapid technological advances, what does it mean to leverage data for good? And in the face of the digital divide, what can we as investors do to address it?With over 20 years of experience in founding multiple start-ups and leading initiatives across diverse sectors, Danil is dedicated to exploring and innovating at the intersection of technology, culture, and society. As the Executive Director of data.org, he drives the platform’s mission to build partnerships committed to advancing the field of data science for social impact.This week's episode we had the honor to discuss topics from combating climate change to promoting equitable access to education and healthcare. Danil and his team at data.org are catalyzing positive change through data-driven solutions. You don’t want to miss this.TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro02:51 - Who is Danil Mikhailov? Background in computer science and anthropology03:54 - Merging impact: human centricity in data and technology; Wellcome Trust and DataDotOrg09:41 - DataDotOrg’s mission as a collaboration between Rockefeller Foundation and MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth.11:23 - The Epiverse and the pandemic16:16 - The gap in data science related investments between the private and the public sectors; partnership with universities19:21 - The role of DataDotOrg as a consortium: philosophy of localism23:23 - Takes on ChatGPT and large language models26:50 - Digital divide and biases in generative AI tools29:17 - Nurturing data science talents in emerging countries31:25 - The next “gray rhino” obvious risk in society from the perspective of data34:25 - Billion Dollar QuestionsAbout DataDotOrgdata.org is a platform for partnerships committed to building the field of data science for social impact.https://www.linkedin.com/company/datadotorg/https://data.org/news/from-data-for-good-to-data-for-impact/FOLLOW DANIL:https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilmikhailov/-PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.comWatch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobalJoin the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmovesFOLLOW SARAH:https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobalhttps://instagram.com/sarahchenglobalhttps://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

“As long as you're open to what's next, as long as you're open to the unknown, then there's an opportunity for you to improve yourself.” - Kimberly Yao, Co-Founder & CEO of CloudEats.From selling booze online and working in Philippine F&B to creating a revolutionary cloud kitchen concept, Kimberly Yao’s entrepreneurial journey has not been a walk in the park, to say the least.Fueled by her passion and interest in food and e-commerce, Kim continues to evolve and adapt as the leader of CloudEats, which, simultaneously, is on a strong growth trajectory since its establishment.How can you become the CEO that your company really needs? And what are the differences when you’re growing from 10 to 100, and then 100 to 1000?Tune in now to learn more about Kim’s leadership at each stage of her entrepreneurial journey!TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro02:50 - Takeaway #1: Passion-fueled vision05:45 - Takeaway #2: Each experience you have is building you up for the next08:31 - Takeaway #3: You need to be ready to grow and evolve as a CEO.10:56 - Takeaway #4: The power of the Time Machine theory, but don’t forget to adapt in building in other markets.13:26 - Sub-takeaway: Be sure of your local advantages 16:56 - Takeaway #5: Not taking a risk, is the biggest risk19:26 - Closing remarks-Full Episode | Becoming the CEO Your Company Actually Needs to Scale & The Future of Virtual Kitchens with Kim Yao, CloudEats🌐 Website: https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/future-of-virtual-kitchens-kim-yao-cloudeats/🎞️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-0ifhk3ZIAbout Kim YaoCo-founder and CEO, CloudEatsKim is building the leading tech-powered food service ecosystem in Southeast Asia through digitally native restaurant brands and proprietary smart kitchen technology. By revolutionizing a massive yet traditional food service industry, her mission at CloudEats is to create the largest cloud restaurant group in the region, challenging brick and mortar heavyweights in F&B. With almost $14m in funding for CloudEats to date, Kim is known to have raised the largest amount of venture capital for a female Filipina led startup. She hopes to inspire female, underrepresented founders to keep dreaming big and work together to pave the way for more women entrepreneurs. Already a veteran in the food and beverage industry, Kimberly Yao opted to “evolve and futureproof” her career by going digital. CloudEats eschews physical restaurants and focuses its 50-plus in-house brands and customised kitchens on delivery. Established in May 2019, the company was recognised by Tech in Asia as one of Southeast Asia’s top 50 rising startups. CloudEats has thrived during Covid-19, opening a new kitchen and donating 55,000 meals to first responders.FOLLOW KIM:https://ph.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyyaohttps://www.instagram.com/kimyaoza/https://www.instagram.com/cloud.eats/-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

Melanie Perkins, the Australian billionaire and co-founder of Canva, shares her inspiring journey from being rejected by over 100 VCs to leading a $26 billion design startup with 170 million monthly users. She emphasizes the importance of solving familiar problems, the value of persistence, and learning from failures. Perkins also discusses the need to challenge industry norms and focus on gradual, strategic goals rather than trying to achieve everything at once. Her insights provide a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark.

You may have heard the news: as of January 2nd, 2024, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd has stepped down as chief executive after nearly a decade leading the dating app company.Despite challenges ahead - a more conservative revenue forecast highlighting the need for a dating-app revamp - let’s not overlook the journey that brought Whitney and Bumble to this point.Not to down play that Whitney Wolfe Herd is a recognizable name, at 31 years old becoming the youngest female CEO who had taken a company public in 2021.To call her career trajectory a “comeback” is an understatement and this is why, Whitney makes first on the list of Billion Dollar Moves CEO Series - enjoy!TIMESTAMPS / KEY TAKEAWAYS0:00 - Intro2:18 - Whitney Wolfe Herd stepped down from Bumble CEO position; her exit from Tinder and then becoming the youngest women ever to take a company public5:40 - Lesson #1 Don’t be afraid to make radical bets, especially on yourself9:15 - Lesson #2 Success can be built on personal setbacks and challenges10:27 - Lesson #3 Building and upholding a purpose-driven brand identity14:11 - 3 actionable questions you can ask yourself to think like WhitneyAbout Whitney Wolfe HerdWhitney Wolfe Herd is the founder, executive chair, and former CEO of publicly traded Bumble, an online dating platform, launched in 2014. Co-founded with Russian billionaire Andrey Andreev, Bumble, the dating app, was known for women making the first move. Whitney who owns a 17% stake in Bumble, became the youngest self-made woman billionaire after it went public in February 2021 for ten months.Prior to Bumble, she was the co-founder of Tinder and was previously its Vice President of Marketing. Read More:Calling out inappropriate user behavior on Bumble: “An Open Letter to Conner” Whitney's journey from Tinder to Bumble, then IPO:“She sued Tinder, founded Bumble and now, at 30, is the CEO of a $3 billion dating empire”“How Whitney Wolfe Herd Turned a Vision of a Better Internet Into a Billion-Dollar Brand”Stepping down from CEO position as of January 2024: “Whitney Wolfe Herd Is Stepping Down as Bumble’s C.E.O. After a Decade”Credits:Bumble Founder's Business Lessons For Entrepreneurs | ForbesBumble's Whitney Wolfe Herd: The Story of BumbleFormer Billionaire Whitney Wolfe Herd Out As Bumble CEORewriting the Rules of Business and Life With Whitney Wolfe Herd - Official Trailer - MasterClassBumble Founder: The Truth About My Explosive Tinder ExitSecrets To Dating And Making A Billion By 31 From Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd | MSNBC Summit Series

Revisiting a clip from the LP Summit co-hosted by Beyond the Billion and Arctic15 in Helsinki in 2023, we have curated this brief but insightful episode for GPs, LPs, or even founders.This week’s guests are two European LP veterans - Marko Hara, formerly the director of Elo, one of Finland's largest employee pensions, and Tomi Viia, currently the head of investments at OP Financial Group, managing assets totaling €14.2 billion.Our conversation delved into the trends and opportunities in private equity and highlighted the winning strategies for LPs during uncertain times. Let’s get started!Timestamps/Key Takeaways0:00 - Intro03:57 - Takes on current market conditions; advice for LPs during venture slumps07:48 - The shifts in portfolio diversity; the weighing in private equity12:28 - Opportunities in US market for European LPs15:14 - Advice for LPs and portfolio construction during uncertain times17:25 - The winning factors in investment opportunities20:22 - Huge platform shift with the explosion of AI; emerging managers are not off the table23:02 - Q&A: Where are the best soft skills and hard skills that you are looking for in GPs in this environment?24:53 - Key takeaway for LPs and GPs-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

"Goodwill should mean a whole lot more than accounting concept, is earned and cannot be bought; but if done correctly, can be worth a whole lot."As we step into Q2, there's no better time to pause, reflect, and realign our goals for the year ahead.This week, we revisit an episode that continues to inspire, which talks about creating real value with kindness and math, as advocated by James Rhee and his new book red helicopter.In this conversation, we talked about money, reality, true alpha and transformation -- leveraging kindness. This as he saw in his tenure as the unlikely “least qualified CEO” of Ashley Stewart, where he reinvented the company from the brink of bankruptcy.Ahead of your full read, here are some key takeaways from our conversation last year. Enjoy!TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro02:30 - Takeaway #1: You don't make money with just zeros and ones.06:07 - Takeaway #2: Kindness is one of the things you never have to hedge. It's never wrong to be kind.10:14 - Takeaway #3: Don’t underestimate the power of appreciating the quiet leaders.12:00 Takeaway #4: “I'm more proud of the way we did it than what the result was.”13:44 - Takeaway #5: The scarcity mindset and why the richest aren’t always the happiest17:23 - Closing remarks: the red helicopterFull Episode:Leading with Kindness | James Rhee🎙️Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/bdm-jamesrhee 🎞️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YYr6ZRQPdIred helicopter - James RheeImagine, a clear path forward told as a deeply felt human story. A poignant and uplifting celebration of humanity, red helicopter—a parable for our times is a tale of struggle and triumph, compelling for its honesty and relatability as much as for the instructions we can all use to balance the books of our lives.Grab your copy here!Learn more about James Rhee and red helicopter: https://www.redhelicopter.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

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