Macquarie Group’s Post

Remember that electrifying moment when textbook theories collide with real-world financial uncertainty? That's exactly what I experienced the 2nd week of January during AmplifyME's intensive Trading & Financial Markets Analysis Bootcamp. Drawing on my expertise from my concurrent master's degree in Investment & Finance at Strathclyde Business School, this intensive program was an incredible opportunity to see at least some translated theory turned into action. I am proud to share that I successfully earned a Level 5 Diploma in Trading & Financial Markets Analysis/Applied Finance & a Mergers & Acquisitions Finance Accelerator Certificate, accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance. AmplifyME's reputation as the go-to training provider for financial giants like UBS, Citadel, & Morgan Stanley- clearly stands undefeated in their field of expertise. Their commitment is exceptional and they truly love what they do. Throughout the week, each day presented a new facet of the financial world (and thus new challenges!). 🌍 Global Asset Management: Retracing real-life events and navigating global market volatility such as rising interest rates, news headlines, and other macro trends made me able to successfully be placed in the top 10 out of 250 other investors. This was a ride that cemented the crucial link between global trends and market volatility! 💼 Investment Bank Sales & Trading: This day was primarily focused on engaging in client communication and managing market risk. We were put in the positions of being both Market Makers but also the clients which proved invaluable. I still can not shake the enjoyment of the pressure that was simulated. 🏦 Mergers & Acquisitions: We were placed in a random team of up to 30 individuals and I was lucky enough to be appointed as the Chief Content Creator of the group. My task involved spearheading the crafting of data-driven and a visually captivating sales deck. Our collective effort landed us a thrilling 2nd place finish among 10 teams, leaving a lasting impression on over 250 investors. Thank you, AmplifyME, (and also Strathclyde Business School for making this possible) for this enriching experience that has undoubtedly broadened my horizons and equipped me with valuable skills for the dynamic world of finance. Safe to say, I'm excited for what lies ahead! 💼📊 #amplifyme #strathclyde

Excited to share Oppenheimer’s Q2 Edtech Market Update, highlighting mixed performance across the sector: - Venture Capital Investments - Modest investment growth reflects continued interest in innovation and development. - M&A - Major deals, like PowerSchool ($5.6B) and Instructure ($4.8B) acquisitions, highlight consolidation driven by scale and AI advancements. - Public Markets - EdTech stocks were stable, with Duolingo leading, amid economic uncertainty and cautious investors. Stay ahead of the curve with Oppenheimer’s insights into the evolving EdTech landscape. === Oppenheimer Tech Investment Banking A leading investment bank specializing in technology and other industries, providing expertise and financing solutions to help tech companies grow and succeed.  #edtech #investmentbanking #oppenheimer #oppenheimertech

M&A and Education. Traditional education has been stagnant for decades until Covid-19 pushed for technology integration across institutions. This technology has progressed and education systems have adapted it into their everyday processes since the Covid-19 push- although this isn’t directly towards teaching methodologies rather, it is applied as additional practice or supporting material. The emergence of GenAI is a siren in the progression of the EdTech industry, as its potential impact is far from fully realized. This will allow for custom content, personalized teaching styles and methodologies, and even change how we assess students - the effects seem boundless. It is also anticipated that with the burgeoning literacy rates across countries (such as those in the APAC region), the EdTech segments stand to profit from this expanding digital infrastructure and consumer markets. The K–12 space is anticipated to grow in popularity as businesses try to improve their educational offerings by adding new services. This movement strongly emphasizes an ecosystem-wide approach to education that unites various stakeholders. Education is on the rise. Grow with Aurigin. Signup on Aurigin: https://bit.ly/3Vw4EIY #CorporateAcquisitions #TailoredDeals #AuriginInsights #invest #MnA #CorporateGrowth #Corporates #Finance #Banking #Banks #InvestmentBanking #InvestmentBank #Sourcing #DealSourcing #Deals #Aurigin #mergersandacquisitions #mergers #acquisition #business #corporatefinance #marketing #venturecapital #smallbusiness #privateequity #Acquisitions #Buyside #Sellside #innovation #technology #management #fundraising #business #CorporateAcquirer #Education #Fund

What is your WHY? The concept of WHY is a theory developed and well documented by Simon Sinek. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it isn’t one I had come across until participating in the Goldman Sachs #GS10KSB programme last year. The programme got me thinking a lot about my personal and business ‘why’. ‘Start With Why’ is the concept of explaining your purpose and the reason you exist and behave as you do. Delving into this concept allowed me to determine dbstructural Ltd's purpose statement: dbstructural exist to do engineering differently. I will share more on this in future posts. More importantly, it allowed me to determine my own personal why. Why did I go into business, create a company and take on all the highs and lows that are associated with that? The answer to this is ultimately to be a better Dad. I never wanted to be the Dad that was never around, never at home, always working long hours and not seeing my children between weekends. Setting up dbstructural allowed me to take control of this. I will admit that at times it has been a challenge to fulfill this purpose, but most recently I feel like I am winning! Especially today, surprising my Wife and youngest Son at his toddlers football class and seeing his joy light up the room makes it all worthwhile! So tell me, what is your why? #dbstructural #business #simonsinek #whatisyourwhy #goldmansachs #GS10KSB

Blackstone is seeing an uptick in realizations, signaling improved activity in the private equity market. Meanwhile, Bain Capital has identified education technology (EdTech) as a promising sector for investment. Amid ongoing market shifts, Bain views this as an "interesting time" to invest in EdTech, driven by growing demand for innovative educational solutions. As technology continues to reshape industries, EdTech presents a unique opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on the evolving education landscape. #PrivateEquity #EdTech #Investing #EducationTechnology #Blackstone #BainCapital https://lnkd.in/gnCPBsRb

In the year 2000, I embarked on a quest to raise $8 million—an endeavor met with skepticism from many. Undeterred, after ten months of relentless effort, I succeeded, thereby enriching an individual by a billion dollars. In 2007, I navigated a 22-month journey from company inception to NASDAQ listing, despite initial doubts from underwriters due to 11 material weaknesses highlighted in PWC three quarters’ financial reports. Nonetheless, I achieved the Wall Street annual IPO of 2007, raising $1 billion within 14 months post-IPO. In 2014, so called seasoned entrepreneurs doubted my ability to raise 3.8 billion RMB on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Through efficient ten-day roadshows, I surpassed expectations. Reflecting on my post-high school self-study days, even my teachers lacked confidence in my university prospects, yet I emerged as one of the two successful university entrants. Life's trials have strengthened me; today, as I pursue greater goals, I often seek external validation, yet remain resolute in trusting my judgment and redoubling my efforts. While I welcome professional collaborators with entrepreneurial spirit, I also recognize the value of independent decision-making. I'll pause briefly, but not for long—I'm prepared to forge ahead solo if necessary.

"They're all just falling off the cliff, one after the other." According to James Marciano, founder and CEO of Tuck Advisors, this is the current state of the education sector. Increasingly challenging market conditions and an oversaturation of products with similar goals are pushing the sector towards a wave of consolidations—a development that has kept Marciano busy. While there is still a significant amount of capital that investors are looking to deploy across the K-12 industry, the constrained total addressable market might obstruct growth for these companies. So, what’s next for the education market? As an experienced entrepreneur turned investment banker, Marciano shares his insights on how private equity and strategic acquisitions are shaping the future of education companies. Dive into Michelle Caffrey's latest story in EdWeek Market Brief to get the full scoop! 💡📈 #Edtech #Education #M&A #TuckAdvisors #IndustryInsights https://lnkd.in/eJGcWPXy

Last week, I traded my office for the classroom 📚 Zak Schwarzman had me in to speak to his #venturecapital Seminar class Columbia Business School 3 takeaways + 1 surprise 👇 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗖 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 ... 𝗯𝘂𝘁 it's WAY better than the relatively "great" VC job market I experienced post-MBA. 2️⃣ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗩𝗖 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀? Figure out which firms might be starting to raise their next fund in the coming months. (And then try to get yourself in front of them!) 3️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹" to stay in front of VCs after you meet them, or to get a meeting (I'll explain this one in the comments!) But what about that surprise I mentioned? 👇 My VC prof from back when I was in school - Stuart Ellman - at the front of the room, teaching again. Always grateful to him and the team at RRE Ventures who were instrumental in teaching me the VC biz. And for helping to put me on the #entreprenuership path 🙏

Beyond thrilled to share that my second economics publication this year, "Venture Capitalist Directors and Managerial Incentives," has been published in the Journal of Corporate Finance (published by Elsevier) and is now available online as of August 27, 2024. This work was a collaboration with my exceptional co-authors: Lubomir P. Litov (University of Oklahoma), Xia (Summer) Liu, Ph.D., CFA (University of Oklahoma - Price College of Business), and William Megginson, PhD (University of Oklahoma & University of International Business and Economics). Our research explores the influence of venture capitalist (VC) directors on executive incentives in non-venture-backed public firms. We demonstrate that VC directors on compensation committees are linked to higher CEO risk-taking incentives and stronger pay-for-performance sensitivity, especially when these directors come from highly reputable VC firms. Our findings are backed by important instruments, using changes in direct flight availability to VC hubs and VC dry powder as instruments to establish causality. A heartfelt thank you to Professor Lubomir P. Litov, whose unparalleled academic expertise and insights significantly elevated the quality of our research. His relentless motivation and supportive drive pushed us to strive for the highest standard of scholarly excellence. Working with someone of his caliber has been both a privilege and an inspiration. His mentorship and friendship have profoundly influenced this project and my scholarly and personal development. To Professor Xia (Summer) Liu, Ph.D., CFA, working with you has been an absolute pleasure—your brilliant insights and kind heart have made this journey both enriching and memorable. And to Professor William Megginson, PhD, your unparalleled wisdom and unwavering commitment to guiding this research, despite your demanding schedule, have been truly invaluable. Your intellectual leadership and dedication have been inspiring. I invite you to read the full paper for more detailed insights. https://lnkd.in/g-zT3UYz #research #publication #venturecapital #boardofdirectors #chiefeconomist #evaluation #insights #labormarket #capitalmarket #corporategovernance #collaboration

Asked once in Sequoia Capital on cap tables.🎯 Q. Walk me through how cap table works.🤔 A. First let me show you example and later define💁♂️ Initial Setup:🙇 Founders: Alice: 50% and Bob: 50% Total Shares: 1,000k (500k each)👀 Seed Round:💁 New Investors: Invest $1m at a $4m pre-money valuation🙇♀️ Post-money valuation: $5m👍 Equity Percentage: $1m by $5m = 20%👌 New Shares Issued: $1m by $4m × 1,000k shares = 250k shares🙇 Total shares = 1,250k🙆 Cap Table After Seed Round:🤷♀️ Alice and Bob: 500k by 1,250k = 40% each🧏 Investors: 250k by 1,250k = 20%🙆 Things to understand in this: ✅️ Dilution: Founders’ ownership decreased from 50% each to 40% each due to new shares issued in financing round. ✅️ Valuation: Post-money valuations increased here and similarly increase in further rounds, reflecting the startup’s growing value. ✅️ Equity Distribution: Each round brings in new investors, diluting existing shareholders but also providing necessary capital for growth. So to summarize the definition:💁♂️ The cap table keeps track and summarizes the equity ownership in a company before and after the financing rounds are completed and records the owners, the class of stock owned, number of shares, the price, valuation, and ownership percentage.🙇 #education #finance #careers #venturecapital #jobinterviews