Takeaways and Trends
Leaders in the Launch With GS community on recent trends across the funding ecosystem.
Our Perspectives
The latest insights and perspectives from founders, investors and business leaders in the Launch With GS ecosystem.
“Race and gender investing gaps did not emerge overnight—and will not be solved by any one organization. That’s why we’re partnering with others who share our view that this is both an incredible investing opportunity and the right thing to do.”
Margaret Anadu
Managing Director
Head of the Urban Investment Group
“In Asia, many healthcare, technology and consumer companies are increasingly catering to female consumers. Portfolio companies with a diverse leadership team at the helm have a clear competitive advantage since they are better positioned to understand the true needs of their customers.”
Stephanie Hui
Managing Director
Head of Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in Asia and Co-head of GS Growth
“The bottom line is this makes sense for our business – because investing and helping companies grow is our business. We also hope it makes a difference for entrepreneurs who have big ideas but find themselves cut out of the funding ecosystem.”
Stephanie Cohen
Global Co-Head of Consumer and Wealth Management
“Diversity is critical to every analytical process. When you bring many different thoughts and unique perspectives together, everyone makes better decisions.”
Lisa Opoku
Managing Director
Global Chief Operating Officer for the Engineering Division
“Entrepreneurs think differently than everyone else – otherwise their idea would already exist. If you’re looking for entrepreneurs in the same place over and over again, you’ll get the same ideas, over and over again.”
Jade Mandel
Vice President
GS Growth
“When we invest in growth companies, amongst other things we are really backing management teams. We look for resilience, passion, and a demonstrated track record of making good decisions. And we believe that diverse teams make better decisions.”
Nishi Somaiya
Managing Director
Global Co-Head of Growth Equity
“We want to work with entrepreneurs who are humble and willing to do the work with us, because in the end they care about creating a great business that lasts. There’s a vision component to investing – what are you trying to build? And a values component – how are you going to build it?”
Darren Cohen
Managing Director
Global Co-Head of Growth Equity
“Having worked in the industry for close to a decade, I’ve seen the investing gap firsthand. There’s a real economic benefit to having more diversity on boards and investment committees.”
Olga Kaplan
Vice President
GS Growth
“We believe that having a diverse team makes investors better at understanding risk. The investing industry as a whole has a long way to go when it comes to gender diversity. We can accept that as the way it is, or we can try to change it.”
Julian Salisbury
Managing Director
Global Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
“We believe in the power of community in growing businesses, and that having a diverse network can make the difference in getting to that next level, whether you’re an entrepreneur or an investor. That’s what we’re building with Launch With GS.”
Jemma Wolfe
Vice President
Co-Head of Consumer and Wealth Management Strategy
“A successful investment firm requires a special combination of great investment thinking and great business building. We’ve found that the most thoughtful firms recognize these two skill sets are really distinct. The best managers work hard to build teams with a range of talents that complement, where the whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts.”
Chris Kojima
Managing Director
Global Co-Head of Alternatives Capital Markets & Strategy
SEP 2020
Reflecting on the Launch With GS 2020 Black and Latinx Entrepreneur Cohort
What can a fraud detection company learn from a vegan cookie company? How are the IPO trends within the payments sector affecting the broader fintech ecosystem? What tricks do repeat founders employ that no one tells you when you raise a Series A round? Once you’ve successfully exited a company, how do you create a long-lasting legacy that increases equity and access for more founders? While these questions may seem wide-ranging, we tackled them all (and more!) this summer with the inaugural Launch With GS Black and Latinx Entrepreneur Cohort. Read more about the experience here.
SEP 2020
Exploring the Founder Journey with Launch With GS CEOs
Goldman Sachs' Chief Strategy Officer Stephanie Cohen talks with three Launch with GS CEOs about their founder journeys and lessons learned while leading through times of crisis.
AUG 2020
Why Diversity Drives Better Investment Performance
Katie Koch, co-head of the Fundamental Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, talks about why diversity gives investing teams a competitive edge.
MAY 2020
Distance Learning and the Future of Ed Tech
On Thursday, May 7, 2020, Launch With GS and Global Investment Research hosted a webinar where Katherine Tait, senior research analyst at Goldman Sachs, discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education technology industry, as well as our outlook on the future of learning and potential longer-term shift to online and blended learning.
How to Launch
A series featuring insights and advice from founders and Goldman Sachs investors on entrepreneurship and building businesses.
How To Run An Effective Board Meeting
Board meetings are serious business, but that doesn’t mean the only way to run them is by going through twenty-five slides of charts and spreadsheets. Unlocking the creativity and camaraderie of your board can go a long way in helping your business distinguish itself over time.
How To Structure Your Board
A board of directors is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Companies benefit from different sets of expertise at different stages in their growth, and it’s natural for board composition to evolve as companies mature. Having diverse perspectives around the table can help fill knowledge and skill gaps as the company evolves.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Board
Your board of directors is working for you 24 hours a day. From a company standpoint, making the most of the board as a resource means knowing what questions to ask and when to ask them – and leveraging the board often, not just during quarterly meetings.
How To Grow Your Business
Often, the best advice comes from people who have been there before. At Goldman Sachs’ Private Internet Company Conference, we asked seven entrepreneurs to share the advice they have for fellow founders on everything from hiring to fundraising to leadership and scaling a successful company.
Leaders Who Launch
A spotlight on business leaders who are changing the game and lighting the path.
Q&A with Helen Adeosun, Founder and CEO of CareAcademy
Helen Adeosun is the Founder and CEO of CareAcademy. In this Q&A with Launch With GS, Helen shares how her experience as a direct care worker shaped the business that she wanted to build, her advice for her younger self, and her belief that entrepreneurship is a muscle.
Q&A with Max Tuchman, Co-Founder of Caribu
Max Tuchman is the co-founder of Caribu, an educational family entertainment platform for kids ages 0-13 to have a virtual playdate with family and friends. In this Q&A with Launch with GS, Max shares how she managed the growth of Caribu following the outbreak of COVID-19, the importance of the Latinx community, and leadership advice for fellow founders.
Q&A with Jean Brownhill, Founder and CEO of Sweeten
Jean Brownhill is the CEO and Founder of Sweeten, which matches home renovation projects with thoroughly vetted general contractors, while offering expert advice, tools, and financial protection—at no cost to homeowners. In this Q&A with Launch With GS, Jean shares the leadership philosophy that she applies across her business and everyday life, how to avoid the “trap of perfection”, and her expert tip for home renovators.
Q&A with Damien Pellicione, Co-Founder and CEO of Revry
Damien Pellicione is the CEO and Co-Founder of Revry, the world’s first LGBTQ+ global media streaming platform. In this Q&A with Launch With GS, Damien shares why he chose to build a business with 4 equal co-founders, and why a framed letter from a user sits in his office to remind him of the mission behind Revry.
Videos You May Be Interested In
Encouraging an Open Dialogue on Race
At Goldman Sachs, we are on a journey to becoming a more inclusive firm and a leader in fighting for racial equity. How can you drive change in your organization? Engaging in dialogue and understanding the lived experiences of Black colleagues is an important step. Goldman Sachs Chief Diversity Officer Erika Irish Brown is joined by others in Human Capital Management who share tools and best practices for how to engage in conversations on race and how to be an active ally. View Webinar
The State of Goldman Sachs’ Small-Business Lending
Margaret Anadu, head of the Urban Investment Group and Launch With GS lead investor, provides an update on the $500 million Goldman Sachs has committed in lending capital for small businesses. Listen Now
Deepak Chopra, MD, Founder of The Chopra Foundation
In this episode of Talks at GS, Deepak Chopra, MD, discusses his insights on well-being, mindfulness and purpose during these challenging times. Watch Now
Theresia Gouw: Founding Partner of Acrew Capital
In this episode of Talks at GS, venture capitalist Theresia Gouw discusses what she looks for in an early stage company, the opportunities from building a diverse investor team, and the state of venture capital in Silicon Valley. Watch Video
How Computational Biology is Transforming Drug R&D
In this episode of Exchanges at Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs Research’s Heath Terry explores the growing world of computational biology—using the power of big data to revolutionize drug discovery, disease prevention and cancer detection. Listen Now
BRIEFINGS
A weekly email from Goldman Sachs about trends shaping markets, industries and the global economy.