If you thought business plan discussions with teenagers felt strange, think again. Here’s an amazing video by Lindsey Mills in which you can see how primary school students are being trained in business start-ups, and how they start talking about Seed Capital, Venture Capital Rounds, Debt Capital and Income Statements…things which many of us learned sometime during our first or second job! The Start Em Up Business program gives students an introduction to business. Students learn the basic business concepts through playing fun business games, starting a real business, and making money. It feels like training numerous Tiger Woods for business – very interesting. The potential of something like this is immense because in 5-10 years from now, we could see start-ups from kids. You can learn more here: www.simplyoutrageous.org
Category Archives: Finance
McKinsey: How can businesses use Web 2.0?
McKinsey Quarterly, in one of their recent survey reports tells how businesses are using Web 2.0, or want to use it. As always, their survey is very well presented, and most points are valid. Now, here are our notes from it for you:
Over 75% executives who responded to the survey intend to maintain or increase their investments in Web 2.0 technology trends that encourage user collaboration, such as peer-to-peer networking, social networks, and Web services.
The report also talks about some executives wanting to these technologies for a sustained competitive edge.
Now, in our view, while ‘sustained competitive edge’ is unlikely by any people driven Web 2.0 technology, it is already bringing benefits and profits for those early adopters who are able to understand what to do.
For example, are you able to use your websites to pre-sell your services? Or are you collecting enough information from your online clients and prospects? Or do your teams collaborate enough, and also keep client in the loop?
All these things can earn more revenues while reducing costs = more profitability. And this isn’t not some textbook equation…it’s happening already!
So if you haven’t got a clue where to start in your business, contact us, and we will show you at least 2 ways to rapidly benefit.
Goldman Sachs dominating private equity in 2006-2007
Goldman Sachs has worked on nearly half of all private equity deals globally, according to Financial News Online. It has worked as a deal adviser or financial backer on 50 deals worth a combined $226.5 billion. There has been a total of $500 billion worth of deals announced so far this year. If all these deals were brought to fruition, Goldman Sachs could earn in the $4 billion neighborhood for five months worth of work. The firm overall was boosted by advisory work for its in-house private equity arm, which has racked up nearly $90 billion in deals. JPMorgan and Citigroup rank second and third.
Understanding Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) -part2
This is part 2 of the presentation series on M&A.
Link for part 1: Understanding Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) -part1
In this multi-part video presentation, Nishant Saxena describes the complete M&A process, with learnings from various transactions. We believe this is one of the most comprehensive M&A presentations available on the Internet for free viewing and download: Mergers & Acquisitions Deal Process
About the Presenter: Nishant Saxena is the CEO of Elements Akademia. He has seven years experience in Corporate Finance with Procter & Gamble – including Strategic/ Financial Planning, M&A, Value creation, White-space expansion, GAAP Accounting, and Internal Controls/Audit etc. Worked across various geographies in Asia (Japan, Philippines, India and Singapore) and across various business units. BE, MBA from one of India’s top schools. He founded Elements Akademia in 2007 along with 10 other IIM alumni. The company focusses on the high growth education sector in India and other developing countries.
Understanding Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) -part1
In this multi-part video presentation, Nishant Saxena describes the complete M&A process, with learnings from various transactions. We believe this is one of the most comprehensive M&A presentations available on the Internet for free viewing and download: Mergers & Acquisitions Deal Process
The M&A process is usually a long process that must go through a range of details, people, and decisions.
- The larger the deal size, the more complicated the process, with more people getting involved, and more views to accommodate.
- If you are buying a company strictly as a financial venture, the M&A process is complicated enough. Adding specific personnel, technological or strategic objectives to the transaction goals simply complicates the process even more.
- Buyers and sellers should understand their specific motivations and goals as they pertain to the purchase under investigation. It is important that buyer and seller understand the perspective and real-needs of the other party.
- The M&A process may take a weeks, months, or even years, though the usual time frames are about 3-9 months. And during this period, the buyer and seller learn details about each other.
- Its absolutely essential to ensure trust and integrity in the process – otherwise the deal can often break at the last minute. No issue is a non-issue. Every question needs an answer.
- Clearly defined goals help greatly in evaluating the impact of subsequently uncovered details. Developing these goals requires advance preparation and evaluation on the part of both buyer and seller and greatly enhances the likelihood of post-acquisition success.
About the Presenter: Nishant Saxena is the CEO of Elements Akademia. He has seven years experience in Corporate Finance with Procter & Gamble – including Strategic/ Financial Planning, M&A, Value creation, White-space expansion, GAAP Accounting, and Internal Controls/Audit etc. Worked across various geographies in Asia (Japan, Philippines, India and Singapore) and across various business units. BE, MBA from one of India’s top schools. He founded Elements Akademia in 2007 along with 10 other IIM alumni. The company focusses on the high growth education sector in India and other developing countries.