Session 3

So my ignorance regarding blogging has shown in that I posted things in the comments section for session 2.  So

For session 3, I thought this was the best session I've had so far in my exchange here at IE.  At first I was afraid that Jorge's success would prevent any useful takeaways from his visit since most people can't raise financing the way he did/can.  For most of us, raising financing is a challenge, whereas he was talking about it as more of a chore, something he just has to do but without any uncertainty at all..as if he had a universal formula that always worked.  I think he failed to mention how his experience at telecoms and consulting companies helped him network, and more importantly, get into a room to pitch to the most receptive people, who will understand your business plan.

But overall it was great.  The following three things I found very insightful and helpful:

1. Really good point about the focus vs. diversify.  i.e, putting your own money into the business  disrupts these interests.  A VC diversifies with multiple focused companies, not a single company that tries to diversify. 
2. I Like the point about how banking regulation is changing the attitude and perception of investors, who now look for unregulated investments in the wake of the regulatory changes. This may be a new avenue to pursue when searching for risk tolerant investors
3. The point about the focus on new processes is really interesting.  I have often thought along these same lines, however the challenge is deciding how much to disrupt with one new product or service.  Often ideas that provide the right mix up new value and savings but also integrating with infrastructure that private and public entities have already invested in (and hence are still interested in earning a return on).  Trying to sell an entire new process that would render already purchased capital obsolete may not be the best proposal.  Nonetheless, I think the focus on new processes was a good verbalization of what I have felt for a while.