Overview
Investing in early-stage companies is an inherently risky business as there are so many unknowns surrounding the decision to invest. However, early-stage investing is still an attractive investment for many investors just ask Alex van Someren, Managing Partner of Early Stage Funds at Amadeus Capital Partners, a global technology investor who has backed more than 135 companies and raised over $1 billion for investment.
Join us in this session as we chat with Alex van Someren and get tips from him on early-stage investing and succeeding in it.
Date:6 March 2019, Wednesday
Time:5:00pm 7:00pm
Venue:32 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059911
Speaker:
- Alex van Someren, Managing Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners
Moderator:
- Pang Heng Soon, Head of Venture Building, SGInnovate
Programme Details:
5:00pm 5:30pm: Registration
5:30pm 6:30pm: Fireside Chat and Q&A
6:30pm 7:00pm: Networking
Speaker's Profile:
Alex van Someren, Managing Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners
Alex is Managing Partner of the Early-Stage Funds at Amadeus and sits on the boards of several Amadeus portfolio companies. Alex has a current investment focus on UK deep technology including artificial intelligence & machine learning, cloud computing/enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, digital healthcare, medical technology and optical & quantum technologies.
Alex is a co-founder of CyLon, which finds, grows and invests in the world's best emerging cyber businesses. During 2019, Alex will hold the Clore Visiting Innovation Professorship of the Royal College of Art, and will be a member of the Royal Society's Science, Industry and Translation Committee.
Alex left school to join Acorn Computers in the 1980s, where he was involved in the development of the BBC Microcomputer & Acorn Electron. He subsequently co-founded ANT Ltd in 1990 to produce networking products, including web browser software licensed to the Oracle Corporation. ANT plc was listed on the London AIM market (AIM:ANTP) in 2005 and later acquired by Espial.
In 1996 he co-founded nCipher with venture capital backing to develop internet security products using advanced cryptography. The company became a world leader in IT security, counting major banks, finance companies and governments among its customers. As nCipher's CEO he raised a total of Ponds 14 million in venture capital funding before leading the company to an IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2000 (LSE:NCH) at aPonds 350 million valuation. nCipher plc was sold to Thales SA in 2008 and is now Thales e-Security.
Alex lives in Cambridge, UK and is married with three children. He was appointed an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Judge Business School, the university of Cambridge in 2005, and he is currently Chairman of the Development Committee of Kettle's Yard, one of the University of Cambridge Museums.
Moderator's Profile:
Pang Heng Soon, Head of Venture Building, SGInnovate
Heng Soon brings with him 30 years of in-depth knowledge and experience in technology startups investments. At SGInnovate, he leads the Venture Building team that is focused on launching new startups that have research and intellectual property at their core.
To increase the success rates of these early-stage deep-tech startups, the Venture Building team also provides business building advice and works closely with them in areas such as use case and customer identification, talent recruiting, and strategic priorities.
Prior to his current role, Heng Soon was active in sales and business development, having had leadership roles in the precision manufacturing and automation equipment sector.
Heng Soon started his career at Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) where he led efforts in identifying promising Singapore companies for targeted development. While at EDB Investments, Heng Soon was involved in direct investments into high-growth US-based technology startups.
He graduated as a Diplom-Ingenieur from Hamburg, Germany in 1985.
