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Forbes Investing Guide – Investing on the Frontier

I wanted to share this outstanding article which was featured in the recent Forbes Investment Guide (a segment of Forbes Magazine). It dives into the workings of the Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund.

The fund (which has over $800 Million) consists of only 8 people: principals Laura Geritz & Roger Edgley and six researchers.

After much research and many vaccinations, Geritz will fly to and meet with CEOs of promising companies in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, India, Brazil and Chile (traveling approximately 3 months a year).

The Wasatch fund has proved a success. This “boots on the ground investing” has helped her to find gems like Hering (the Gap of Brazil) which Geritz invested in resulting in a 480% return. Numbers like this explain why Gertiz’s fund is among the top 1% in the diversified emerging markets category. It is also interesting to note that the Forbes article mentions the web of investment scams that can exist is these countries (which undoubtedly makes investing more difficult and time consuming).

Forbes Article located HERE. For more on the Wasatch Fund click HERE.

2011′s Top Tech Investors

I wanted to share this great cover article from FORBES recently which lists 2011′s top tech investors. Venture Capitalists like Peter Thiel, Michael Moritz and Mike Maples (who is interviewed below) are mentioned among others. Each profile lists their background and successful investments. It is good to see that most of these investors are stationed in my home town of Menlo Park!

In the video below, Maples discusses the early pitfall he had with his investment in Odeo (shortly before Itunes began giving free pod-casting), but decided to “let his money ride” and invest with the same entrepreneur on a subsequent deal, which allowed him to invest in Twitter, and eventually Digg.

View Article HERE

To view the complete list – Click HERE

Warren Buffett and Jay-Z


These two very different businessmen have created enterprises in similar ways. They speak about their early careers, entrepreneurial interests, and specific moments and mentors that made them successful.

Buffett breaks down some of his fundamentals on value investing, which he learned from his mentor Ben Graham, and when he decided to changed his investing perspective. Buffett also describes how one can apply the “habits of success”, while Jay describes how he “broke out of the pack”, and narrowly avoided being sent to prison.

Both agree on the importance of knowing how to identify emotional responses that occur in business, whether it’s industry trends or the stock market. Buffett and Jay also discuss how much “luck” has to play in business, and other intangible aspects one cannot quantify. Both have risen to wealth and attained huge recognition. They detail what gaining wealth meant for them, namely independence and the opportunity for philanthropy, and [Read more...]

Heavy Lifting for Russian Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov

NBA Basketball season is right around the corner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the new owner of the New Jersey Nets, has much to prove with his new franchise. Prokhorov however is a veteran in turning struggling franchises into winners.

Below is a fantastic video from 60 Minutes profiling Prokhorov’s extraordinary lifestyle and previous struggles as a young businessman in Russia. Prohkorov studied at the Moscow Financial Institute, and later bought Norilsk Nickel, a huge mining and metals operation, from Kremlin leaders. Through hard work Prokorov managed to make his new company Norilsk Nickel more profitable, and sold his shares for 10 billion dollars, two months before stock market crisis. Prokhorov thus became the wealthiest individual living in Russia. Hopefully Prokhorov can apply his proven business skills to the basketball court as the Nets take on The Lakers, and the new dream team in Miami.