Welcome to Capital Bridge: Navigating Global Funding Landscapes for Private Equity, Venture Capital and Public Listings

Hello future readers,

I highlight future as I am starting the newsletter without a single follower. Come to think of it, I have not told anyone I am committing to this new endeavour other than my fiancé and our dog who was surely listening. However, its from this intention of sharing what I have learned and continuing to learn more to then share that I am approaching this newsletter.

My name is Matt, and this is the beginning of what I hope will be an insightful, useful, and—let’s be real—occasionally entertaining newsletter about the often complex world of capital raising and global markets. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale, an investor seeking the next big thing, or just someone with an interest in how businesses grow across borders, I’m excited to have you on this journey.

Now, you might be thinking, "Why should I listen to this guy?" Fair question. Let me start by giving you a little background on myself.

I grew up in Canada but, over the years, I’ve called many places home, including Central America, Europe, the UAE, and the past few years even part-time in the US. I’ve always had a bit of a nomadic streak, which turned out to be pretty useful in the world of business and finance. After 5 years of studying engineering and earning my graduate degree in finance, I took a role cold calling brokers in hopes of getting them to put investors into client issuers (mostly junior mining companies listed on the TSX Venture. I could only suffer about thee months of this before I took a role in Investor Relations working directly for a public company and its here that I started my real world education in governance, raising capital and corporate communications. After less than a year I had made enough contacts and learned enough to found my own boutique investment bank at the ripe old age of 26. Let’s just say I learned a lot by doing—and sometimes by making mistakes-many, many mistakes.

Along the way, when not making mistakes, I had the opportunity to dive into reverse mergers, direct listings, and all kinds of capital-raising methods that most people only read about in textbooks. Spoiler alert: real life is more complicated, but also way more interesting.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve founded over a dozen companies across four continents, with exits on three. Alongside that, I’ve been an angel investor throughout my adult life. I guess you could say my idea of fun is learning and helping new ideas grow—and sometimes it works out pretty well. It was part of this adventure that led me to make an angel investment in a blockchain startup in 2015 (yes, there were such things as blockchain startups in 2015—though you could count every one on your fingers and toes). Taking a role with this company to help it grow, I found myself in Dubai, where I ended up spending much of my time working with government and industry to answer the question, "What is blockchain?" rather than helping my investment gain traction. After seeing the need in the region for assistance on understanding this emerging technology I founded and became the Managing Director of a management consulting firm in 2018. We’ve worked with everyone from scrappy startups and ambitious token issuers to international airlines and publicly traded companies. So, whether it’s private equity, venture capital, Web3, or traditional finance, I’ve had my hands in a bit of everything.

Today I am in the process of relocating to Italy with my fiance and our dog where I will continue focus my efforts as I always have in learning, building and sharing knowledge. However, going forward it will be through a new entity I am founding called Velocity VC. That’s a little about me, but now let's get to the exciting part—Capital Bridge: Navigating Global Funding Landscapes.

What is Capital Bridge all about?

This newsletter is a labor of love (Let's recall I have no followers as of writing this article) and I avoid social media like the plague, so this effort will be more about gaining and sharing deep insights rather than growing followers. After spending years in different markets and raising capital for companies of all sizes, I realized that there's a gap in the way we talk about global capital strategies. Everyone has a niche, but very few people focus on how funding ecosystems interact across regions. That's where Capital Bridge comes in.

My goal is simple: to help founders, investors, and business leaders understand the complexities and opportunities of raising capital across borders. Whether you're a tech startup in Europe looking to attract MENA investors, or an established company in North America considering a listing on the LSE, this newsletter is for you.

But I’m not going to drown you in jargon or offer cookie-cutter advice. The content here will be practical, grounded in real-world examples, and, where possible, fun to read. After all, raising capital doesn’t have to be boring (although, let’s face it, sometimes it is painful). Expect stories from the trenches—like what actually happens when a deal falls apart at the last minute or how to convince investors to take a chance on you in a different market.

So, what will Capital Bridge cover?

1. Cross-Border Capital Strategy

This is the heart of the newsletter. Every edition will explore strategies that can help founders tap into funding ecosystems outside of their home markets. I’ll break down the synergies and gaps between regions like Europe, MENA, North America, and Asia—because, trust me, they each have their quirks. Expect insights into regulatory environments, investor mindsets, and the best ways to structure your deal to attract global capital.

2. Interviews with Founders and Capital Deployers

One thing I’ve learned is that there’s no better teacher than someone who’s been there, done that. I’ll be interviewing successful founders and entities that are actively deploying capital—from early-stage VCs to large-scale private equity firms. These conversations will offer you direct insights from people who’ve built great companies or backed them in ways that matter.

3. Real-World Case Studies

Theoretical advice is nice, but real-world examples are where the learning happens. I’ll share case studies of companies that have successfully raised capital in different regions, highlighting both what worked and what didn’t. We’ll dive into the specifics—what strategies helped them close deals, what pitfalls they avoided, and what you can learn from their experience.

4. Market Trends and Opportunities

The global capital landscape is constantly shifting. What’s hot in MENA might be cooling in Europe, or new opportunities may be emerging in Asian markets. I’ll keep you updated on where the capital flows are moving, which sectors are gaining traction, and what to watch out for in the ever-evolving world of venture and private equity finance.

Why should you care?

At the end of the day, Capital Bridge is about creating value for you—whether you’re raising funds, deploying capital, seeking the best method to create liquidity for your stakeholders or simply trying to make sense of global markets. I’ll bring insights from my experience across four continents, but I’ll also make sure to keep things grounded in practical advice that you can apply directly to your business.

The global capital-raising landscape can seem intimidating, but with the right guidance, it can also open doors to massive opportunities. If you're looking to raise growth capital, access new markets, or just better understand how funding works in different regions, then Capital Bridge will be your go-to resource.

So, welcome aboard! I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you.

Matt, Managing Partner Velocity VC