Where Are the Disruptive Companies in Asset Management?

Asset Management Is a Bizarre Industry Overdue for Disruption

David Teten, Partner, ff Venture Capital ffvc.com / / teten.com @ffvc // @dteten New York, NY April 14, 2014

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marieswartz/4228616284/sizes/z/in/photostream/

© 2014 David Teten. More at ffvc.com and teten.com

Asset management is a bizarre industry.

•  The asset management industry collectively adds minimal value to its clients above the option of investing in index funds.

•  Investors typically pay asset managers far more compensation than is appropriate for their real value-add.

•  The VC industry collectively has a structural incentive to destroy value … and does.

•  Most retail investors underallocate to the single-highest-yielding asset class, angel investments.

http://teten.com/blog/2013/11/15/asset-management-is-a-bizarre-industry-ripe-for-disruption/


Investors want many jobs done, not just return generation. Disruptive companies often emerge from startups that focus narrowly on one job.

•  Job security (of the investor) •  Capital preservation •  Returns •  Exposure to target sector •  Transparency •  Investment team stability •  Tax minimization •  Social welfare •  Relationships with other investors and executives •  Networking


Examples of Asset Management Innovation (both disruptive and sustaining)

* ffVC company

Index funds Vanguard Credit default swaps BlueMountain; Saba Improving and centralizing the back office

Addepar*

Crowdsourced financing Indiegogo*; Kiva; Kickstarter Discount brokerages Charle Schwab Principal-protected products JP Morgan Junk bonds Drexel Burnham Lambert Outsourcing of risk Blackrock taking transaction risk onto its own books

Expert networks GLG; Circle of Experts Research firms that leverage public internet data

Majestic Research; Navon Partners; Privco

Quant hedge funds Renaissance Technologies Private company markets Angel List Online wealth management Wealthfront ETFs iShares Theme-specific investing Motif Investing


Over time more asset classes become investable.

Domain names Oversee.net, GoldNames Human equity Upstart Litigation Law Finance Patents RPX, Intellectual Ventures Receivables ReceivablesXchange Personal loans LendingClub

Virtual Currencies –In-game currency IGE.com –Frequent flyer miles Points.com –Carbon credits CarbonTradeXchange


Appendix

The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton M. Christensen

© 2014 David Teten. More at ffvc.com and teten.com The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton M. Christensen

The Innovator’s Dilemma identifies two types of innovation. Sustaining •  Improve performance of established

products •  Meet demands of mainstream

customers in major markets •  Vary in difficulty, cost, time, etc. •  Established firms

Disruptive •  Generally underperform established

products in mainstream markets •  Have new features that fringe / new

customers value •  Cheaper, simpler, smaller, more

convenient to use •  Entrant firms


Disruptive innovation usually follows a few key principles.

•  Companies depend on customers and investors for resources

•  Small markets don’t solve the growth needs of large companies

•  Markets that do not exist cannot be analyzed •  An organization’s capabilities define its disabilities •  Technology supply may not equal market demand



Disruptive technologies are often not rational investments for an incumbent.

•  Disruptive products are simpler and cheaper, and promise lower margins

•  Disruptive technologies are first commercialized in emerging or insignificant markets

•  Most profitable current customers are not interested in the product



Examples of Disruptive Technologies

•  Personal computers vs. mainframes •  The disk drive industry •  Steel minimills •  Mechanical excavator industry •  Motorcycles •  Insulin •  Department and discount stores



Macro changes in economy are creating new opportunities for disruption.

•  Capital shift to Asian, seeking growth –  Is the future growth already priced into the assets?

•  Reduction of trust in US bond market •  Longer lifespans- greater need to increase payments from pension plans •  Transfer of wealth from baby boomers in US and Western Europe •  Tech Innovations, aka “the supercycle”

–  SaaS, mobile, social media, DNA reading, big data analytics, mass customization

•  Green tech •  Greater correlation between asset classes because of computer-linked

trading


Any questions ?

Slides at teten.com/disrupt

Sign up for updates at ffvc.com and teten.com

@ffvc @dteten


David Teten (teten.com) •  Partner, ff Venture Capital, early-stage technology venture capital fund •  Founder and Chairman, Harvard Business School Angels of New York . •  Co-founded Venture Capital Access Program, introducing women and minority

entrepreneurs to Harvard-affiliated angels (JV with National Association of Investment Companies)

•  Lead author of first-ever research study on best practices in private equity/venture capital deal origination

•  Lead author of first-ever research study on best practices of venture capitalists in increasing portfolio company value through operational support

•  Lead author, The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online (TheVirtualHandshake.com)

•  Harvard MBA 1998, Yale BA, both with honors. •  @dteten


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Economy & Finance

Where Are the Disruptive Companies in Asset Management?