BE MY GUEST

SIMON SQUIBB
CEO at NEST Investments
“I came to Hong Kong back in 1997 and one of the first
companies I set up was a branding agency called Fluid.
When I look back now and think of all the contacts and
relationships I’ve built up since, I realise that if I started
it now, I could have done in three years what ended up
taking me ten. I now want the companies I invest in to
take advantage of that built-up experience. I think as a
start-up investor you really have to be willing to help,
otherwise you might as well invest in the stock market. At
NEST we try to give entrepreneurs the tools they need
to build scalable businesses. We give them support with
capital as well as hands-on insights, knowledge, contacts
and infrastructure. I would always advise on investing
in concepts that excite you, and in industries that you
understand. One of the interesting things about start–ups
is that because you are so involved, you have a certain
element of control in its success, which is unusual in
other types of investment. Look at the property or stock
market; you often don’t have any kind of influence and in
some cases you’re at the liberty of government regulation
or management decisions. With a start-up I can look at
it, see it, touch it, help it – nothing is more transparent. I
find it satisfying to invest in an entrepreneur and watch
them flourish. We’ve just invested in a company which is
looking to solve the problem of attention deficit disorder
(ADD) in kids. Obviously there is a financial return
which is important but success can also come from
making a difference in the world something I find very
rewarding.”
Simon Squibb
Joshua Steimle
THE
RESERVE
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