Mr. Bino, you are co-founder of the Worldwide Investor Network (W.I.N). What role plays this network in the investors’ world?
The Worldwide Investor Network (W.I.N) is the only U.S.-based investor network solely focused on funding and accelerating international companies looking to expand from their home countries to the U.S. and other global markets. Our ability to engage with international companies, select the most promising ones to present in front of our investor community, and train their CEOs so they have a convincing pitch and investor presentation, make it extremely attractive for our investor community to come to our events and cherry pick, as they know we are doing the bulk of the preparation work for them. Then, it's up to them to decide if the companies are a good fit for their portfolio.
Our mission is linking U.S. investment to global innovation, and as such we make local U.S. investors of the innovation coming out of Europe.
What is the position of your US investment bank in the crowded investment bank world?
We are in discussions with a major Wall Street bank and are prohibited from commenting on it at this stage. We will be happy to do that in the near future.
What are the challenges for international ‘early stage’ firms and what solutions is WIN offering them?
International early stage companies have major challenges when looking for funding from U.S. investors and when expanding to the U.S. market. Among others, they include little to no product validation in their addressable markets; untested business models; poor investor presentation ; having unrealistic go-to-market strategies in place and a lack of traction, early revenue. Often business culture differences, small to no network of U.S resources and partners. And not to forget angel groups and most investors focus on local deals.
W.I.N’s mission is to help entrepreneurs resolve these issues and provide a platform for innovative international companies to present their ventures to local angels and early stage VCs who are interested in international innovation entering the U.S. Each company selected to present at our events is working with one of our experienced mentors on the following items: addressable market validation; product validation within addressable market; formation of go-to-market strategy; tune and clarify business and revenue model; craft investor presentation and angels and VCs meeting preparation
We highly believe that working closely with the companies will prevent common mistakes to be made by international entrepreneurs and will shorten their path to the global market.
How can these early stage firms win WIN’s backing?
By working with our group of mentors, implementing our suggestions, and being fully ready when presenting to our investor community. The attention span of investors today is very short and being able to have a convincing pitch, a good investor presentation, and supporting material is a key to being able to win the backing of our investors.
What exactly is the exclusive WIN Forum and who are the members?
The Worldwide Investor Network (W.I.N.) is the only U.S-based investment network of accredited angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate/institutional investors solely focused on investing in non-U.S. companies desiring to enter the US market. W.I.N. members invest in high-quality, diverse investment opportunities in emerging technologies, web, software, mobile, new and digital media.
Our mission is “Linking U.S. Investment to Global Innovation”.
W.I.N. Forum membership is comprised of serious investors, venture capitalists, corporate/institutional investors and serial entrepreneurs. Membership is by invitation only. W.I.N. is not a fund and does not invest as an LLC. Members collaborate on due diligence, but make individual investment decisions.
A last question. What are your expectations for the future of US investors regarding the ‘rising’ role of China?
China is definitely a force that U.S. investors are aware of, and pay attention to. There are Chinese corporations and investors that are looking to co-invest in western companies to share knowledge and get a grip on IP. These investments are managed through Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwanese corporations.
Thank you Mr. Bino!
