Category: Emerging Markets

Hope – It’s What Keeps People Going

This morning I found myself teaching the rationale of fighting an impossible battle to my 7-year old son. He was attempting to get his strong-headed sister to do something which she had clearly stated she WAS NOT DOING! Knowing my children as I do, I knew that my sons exercise

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Myanmar, Hillary, God & Muhammad

It must be so…customs and immigration officials upon acceptance of employment are required to sign a mandatory statutory declaration before commencing their professional duties. In my estimation this is a declaration of unquestionable sullenness, objectionability, lack of common decency and an intolerance to humour. It also involves immediate termination of

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Don’t Write Off Cambodia…This Place is Remarkable!

With the Mongolian meet up now over, one of the countries we are going to hone in on is Cambodia. It’s a sleepy SE Asian “powerhouse-to-be” in our opinion. Unfortunately, the place gets a bad rep due to its past. Too many people hear Cambodia and think land mines and

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Laos – Good News and The Good News!

Firstly the good news…I contained myself from throttling a mindless bureaucrat at the Thai embassy in Vientiane…just! 7 hours of queues (yeah you read that right, 7 freaking hours)…with kids in tow! I relish this with the same enthusiasm I typically reserve for chronic constipation. Combine the already tedious, non-sensical,

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Why Some Places Are Thriving While Others Are Blowing Up!

In December 2010 a jobless Tunisian graduate burnt himself to death. Having been forcibly prevented from the dangerous and criminal act of selling vegetables from a cart without the proper “license”, he took drastic action. The chain reaction which followed, now affectionately referred to as the “Arab Spring”, likely would

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The Risks of (Not) Investing in Frontier Markets – Central Asia

Today we’ll conclude our conversation about Central Asia with Clemente Cappello from Sturgeon Capital. Corporate governance, transparency and management are three things you need to focus on when doing your due diligence, but that’s just the beginning. ——– Chris: Corporate governance is always an issue in frontier markets. How do

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A Beginner’s Guide to the “Stans”

This is part two of our discussion with Clemente Cappello from Sturgeon Capital… We’re discussing Central Asia. Yesterday Clemente shared the 3 Things you Need to Know About Central Asian Frontier Markets with us. Today we’ll talk more about banking, business and liquidity flows in Frontier Markets, like Kazakhstan. ——–

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Key Steps to A Business’ Healthy Cycle

We’ve invested in many early stage businesses at the angel level, and many more private placements – both brokered and non-brokered. It’s easily the most high octane, lucrative area we’ve ever been involved in. We’ve made, lost and made money over the years, and have learned and relearned some lessons.

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