Session 6 - Access to Finance

Access to Finance: Examining Non-Traditional Platforms for Funding Bridgetown, Barbados November 12th, 2014

infoDev’s Entrepreneurship Program in the Caribbean GOAL: Develop and grow competitive SMEs across the Caribbean 1

Support Business Enablers

Climate Technologie s Mobile Innovation

Growth-Oriented Entrepreneurs

Investors

Women Entrepreneu rship Other Enablers

2

Access to Finance

Challenge – Lack of Financing for Early-Stage Companies Stages of Business Development:

Idea/Concept FFFs, Incubators, Grants, Bus. Plan Competitions

Start-up

Early-Stage

“Valley of Death”

Supply-side challenges • Banks are structurally risk averse • Few formalized early-stage investors

EarlyGrowth

Growth Banks, Private Equity Public Markets

Demand-side challenges • Lack of quality deal-flow • Equity aversion of entrepreneurs • Entrepreneur skills in engaging investors

Potential Early Stage Financing Options

Idea/Concept

Start-up

EarlyGrowth

Early-Stage

FFFs, Incubators, Grants, Bus. Plan Competitions

Venture Capital

Angel Investing

Diaspora Financing

Growth Banks, Private Equity Public Markets

1. Venture Capital Venture Capital as a potential financing option works in select situations •

Growth opportunity must be huge Snapshot of US Venture Capital Industry

• Mostly Technology focused investments • Mostly in near-growth or expansion stages

• Fund manager has less flexibility • Deal sizes of $1 – $10 M To what extent is venture capital relevant for Caribbean businesses?

By Sector Focus

%

By Stage

%

Software

35%

Seed

3%

Bio-Technology

15%

Early

30%

Medical Devices

10%

Expansion

35%

Industrial/Energy

10%

Later

32%

Source: National Venture Capital Association

2. Angel Investing Angel Investing is likely to be a more suitable alternative early-stage financing option in the Caribbean Invest across Stages

Multiple Models • Formal and informal group of investors • Organization led network

• • •

Seed/Start-up Early Growth

Range of Sectors • • •

Technology Traditional Industries Service businesses

Smaller sized deals •

$50K - $1.5M

More than Capital • •

Mentoring Connections

Mix of instruments • • •

Equity Convertible notes Revenue based financing

3. Diaspora Financing Key Findings 85% would be interested in investing in businesses back home

Interest in investing in non-traditional sectors such as ICT

Willingness to invest across the region outside of home country

However, only 13% of respondents have invested in a Caribbean-based business Major Obstacles infoDev study published in 2013 Based on the results of a survey of 850 Caribbean diaspora members

Lack of visibility into deal flow

Trusted local investors/validators

Complex regulatory environment

“Demand Side” Preparation More needs to be done to prepare entrepreneurs for raising capital successfully

• Developing businesses that will attract investors • Building deeper capacity to effectively engage investors • Understanding investor types and expectations • Understanding of investment terms and suitable instrument options • How to pitch and position the business • Managing the relationship once the deal is done

Areas for Discussion

1.

What is the mix of financing options to consider given enterprises needs, stages and potential?

2.

What must happen to make alternative financing options a reality for entrepreneurs?

3.

What role can enablers play to build stronger pools of investable entrepreneurs?