How Antler Elevate Scales Startups from Series A to IPO | The Further, Faster Podcast

It’s likely that you already know about the ways Antler supports founders at the start of their journey. We host residencies all over the world, we invest in innovative startups and we share expertise – building a global community as well as providing critical funding for talented people with game-changing ideas. We talk a lot about inception-stage, but what happens when a startup is ready to really grow? What does Antler do next? 

In this episode of the Further, Faster Podcast, Antler Partner Fady Abdel-Nour joins CCO Bede Moore to talk about Antler Elevate – our growth fund designed to support founders from Series A to IPO. 

The conversation kicks off with an overview of why Elevate is so important. Founded two years ago, the $285m fund has invested in success stories including Sona, Wrtn.Ai and Airalo, which this year hit unicorn status. “You had everyone running these incredible programs, working with these incredible founders,but as they kind of got to seed stage, there was no funding available,” Fady says. “There just wasn't enough capital in our funds to be able to support these founders.” As he points out, the needs of a business at inception are very different once they are ready to hit growth.

Fady, who is based in Singapore, has a background in banking and investing. He’s not a builder but he knows what counts behind the scenes. With Elevate he can leverage his experience partnering with the biggest growth funds in the world, using that expertise to benefit startups with Antler.  “I can understand how these investors are looking at these businesses,” he says. 

Elevate is part of Antlers efforts to build a global ecosystem and Fady drills into why this is so important. He discusses some of the unique challenges facing founders at growth stage and the ways he is always looking to adapt to these needs. “Different founders want different things,” he points out. “We have to continue to work with the entire Antler ecosystem and make sure we get the founder what he or she wants.”

To learn more about Antler Elevate and what the future holds for the growth fund, listen to the full conversation here.

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