UVC: Martin Tang from Genesis Alternative Ventures on venture debt, how it’s different from revenue based financing and dos and don’ts for startups raising a venture debt round

Understanding VC

Martin Tang is the Co-Founder and Partner at Genesis Alternative Ventures. He has worked in venture debt since 2015 as a founding member of DBS’ venture debt business, leveraging his close to 8 years of investment banking and private equity experience in pioneering the asset class in SE Asia. He then began his entrepreneurial journey when he co-founded Genesis Alternative Ventures, SE Asia’s premier venture debt fund with his two other partners in 2018. He enjoys running, mountain biking, cooking and fine wines in his free time.

Key Takeaways

• Why Martin decided to start Genesis Alternate Ventures
• What is Venture Debt and dos and don'ts for startups raising a venture debt round
• How Venture debt is different from revenue based financing like Pipe.com
• What are some of the red flags for Martin when a startup approach him for venture debt financing
• What is a typical tenure for venture debt and why Thrasio like business models raise a large round venture debt round alongside a small equity round