Welcome to Crown Castê, your financial literacy podcast for small businesses. We publish inspiring, insightful conversations with investors and stewards of capital, about why they decided to make placements into a specific portfolio company of theirs. In today's episode, we are joined by Jonathan Sun.
Jonathan is the Founder of Horizan VC a VC Fund that is working to bring the Convertible Future Earnings Agreement to the UK, which is part equity and part future earnings agreement. This instrument will revolutionise idea-stage and bootstrapper funding. He is also a former founder of an Edtech app called Horizan. He Also is a Techstars Startup Weekend Organiser, Zebras Unite London Co-Lead, and former Assistant Community Manager for Othership.
In this episode, we discuss:
1. Developing a Unique Investment Style:
How did Jonathan end up in the unique realm of alternative investment tools like convertible income share agreement?
What led Jonathan to create this hybrid model combining flexible debt, revenue-based financing, and equity for entrepreneurs?
What advantages does this new model provide for entrepreneurs and investors?
2. Inside Look at Jonathan's Investment Strategy:
How does Jonathan and his team make their investment decisions?
How does the team balance risk tolerance and confidence in early-stage investing?
3. Providing Support for Portfolio Companies:
What kind of support do Jonathan and his team offer to the companies they invest in, apart from capital?
How does Jonathan use his investor communities and networking events to help his portfolio companies?
Why is introducing companies to a broader network of investors important to Jonathan?
4. Overcoming Barriers in Venture Capital:
How has Jonathan addressed the challenge of meeting the GP commitment in setting up a fund?
What mechanisms does Jonathan hope to see in the future to make it easier for future fund managers to meet the GP commitment?
5. Unique Value Addition to Portfolio Companies:
What is the unique value addition that Jonathan's team brings to their portfolio companies?
How do they use the first principles thinking approach to help their portfolio companies stay grounded and focused?
