Family office investment advantages by Obediah Ayton? Following the Unite Monaco event organized by the Private Investment Group, earlier this month, which gathered high-level public sector figures and private families from the UAE and Monaco, Wealth Monaco caught up with Obediah Ayton, Chief Operating Officer of the Private Investment Group. What is the Private Investment Group mission and process? We have acted for the last three years as an international gateway into the GCC region which is very much open for business and has consistently been the biggest allocators of capital despite the global pandemic. We have established built relationships with the public and private sector within the GCC with a focus on supporting International business, businesses that seek access to the region through a joint ventures and partnership for the distribution and licensing of products and services but also attracting investment both indirect and directly.
The role of family offices has changed in the last 20 years, driven by the proliferation of wealth and dramatic increase in the number of millionaires, centimillionaires and billionaires around the world. There also has been a surge in the number of family offices and more sophisticated investors. This new breed of ultra-high-net-worth families in the GCC differs from the “old money” of the past. Their accumulation of wealth is typically more rapid and driven by savvy investment management or entrepreneurism. Many of those joining the ranks of the ultra-high-net-worth include money managers, former hedge fund managers and folks who generated their wealth in private equity. This represents a large population of sophisticated investors with deep networks in the startup and entrepreneurial community who are sitting on tremendous wealth (some estimates put family office total asset value around $6 trillion globally).
Supporting VentureRock with their capital raise and strategic partnerships with both the public and private sectors has been The Private Investment Group, a Dubai-based company that works with funds and families in the GCC but also throughout Europe, the US, and Asia. Founder and CEO of The Private Investment Group Alastair Lidel said “What VentureRock has built is the next generation of ecosystems. A system that allows the incredible depth of knowledge they have to be coupled with some of the most innovative minds in the world. Working in partnership with Xander and the VentureRock team has always been exciting and a privilege and we are delighted to have supported them in this venture and look forward to continuing this impressive journey. Director of Business Development at The Private Investment Group Obediah Ayton added “I am very happy to watch Venturerock demonstrate the way venture capital funds are now being deployed post covid here in the UAE. The portfolio companies within Venturerock are some of the most exciting and innovative we have seen and I have no doubt they will be a welcome asset to both the public and private sector in the Middle East.”
The rise of a business influencer : Obediah Ayton? Obediah Ayton is a trust manager at Ayton Family Office Trust and a consultant at Tennor Holding B.V., a specialist in family office business, AI driven accounting services, finance and accounting. Obediah Ayton about what happens when a Family Office takes the VC model: A new breed of ultra-high-net-worth families differs from the “old money” of the past. Their accumulation of wealth is typically more rapid and driven by savvy investment management or entrepreneurism. These Family Offices are controlling the venture investment game, but desire more transparency to underlying investments than the traditional venture investing experience provides. They also want the ability to cherry-pick the best deals, meet founding team and operations.
Moreover, the principals behind the family offices have extraordinary networks of connections, which can prove invaluable for start-ups seeking customer exposure, business know-how or even further investment. Since family offices in the Middle East are independent entities and are regulated less strictly than banks, they can be much more flexible in their consideration of investments across enterprise size, geographies and asset classes. The appeal of direct investment to family offices comes from more than just the alignment of capital. Direct investments allow them to take a more hands-on approach to selecting and managing their portfolios. Investments in the sustainability space and impact investing are particularly attractive.
Obediah Ayton about how to raise money from family offices: Not to do: Don’t pitch them without understanding their goals and objectives. Don’t brag about your track record or accomplishments. Don’t interrupt them in the middle of a conversation. Don’t be aggressive. To Finish: Do exactly what you say you are going to do. Meet for coffee or at their office in order for you to understand their goals and objectives better. Respect their privacy and don’t share any information about them with anybody else. Feel free to reach out and speak soon.
Right now is a great time to build close relationships with Family Offices for future capital raises! The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Ultimately, the extra effort required to build relationships with family offices is more than warranted. Family offices bring much more than investable capital to the table — a stable relationship with one can offer the power of a warm introduction and a broader network. Many of these family offices are connected with ultra-wealthy family offices and leaders in a variety of businesses.
Obediah Ayton on the new definition of a billionaire is not the net worth but in achieving change in a billion lives: If this has not been a priority, now is the time to make it one, especially given the potential for returns and the effect that these activities can have on next-generation engagement. Globalization, the remote workforce and new technology trends. Technology has changed the face of business operation and brought with a rising trend towards globalization. With this has come the rise of a remote workforce.