Blog
On the Israeli hi-tech experience and what we should all learn from it
In the 1990s, Israel emerged as a leading center for technology start-ups and innovation. In 2000, near the peak of the high-tech boom, Israel had 4000 high-tech firms and new ones were forming at the rate of about 500 start-ups per year. Today, out of the 101 companies trading on NASDAQ; 63 of them...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see in Africa
Though the allure of private equity might have faded in developed markets, we at Blackhawk believe that Africa is providing golden opportunities for funds that are willing to swallow a bit more risk. It was a geographer, George Kimble, who best summed up Western perceptions two centuries after Sw...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see in India
We believe that despite a challenging regulatory environment, strong fundamentals in India continue to offer some highly attractive investment opportunities. After some difficult times that witnessed both the global financial crisis and an internal food crisis brought on by weak monsoons, Indiaâ€...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see in Russia
Although Russia is today the world's largest producer of oil and gas, which is the primary source of its power, we at Blackhawk believe that multiple challenges in the Russian context presently impede the development of the private equity industry and will continue to do so until effective changes t...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see in Private Equity in the Middle East (MENA) Region
Private equity in the MENA region is a relatively new phenomenon, although it has been an attractive funding avenue for international firms for decades. Since the oil shock of the 1970s, petrodollars have found their way back into the West, often as investments in private equity funds. The invest...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see in China
The practice of doing business in China has come into question early this year. The disputes between Google Inc. and the Chinese government have been one factor; others have included the continued concerns raised in the West about China’s currency policy, and in China about Western financial polic...
Read MoreOn the Challenges and Opportunities we see When Investing in Rollups
For all those not familiar with rollups….. A rollup is a technique used by investors where multiple small companies in the same market are acquired and merged. The principal aim of a rollup is to reduce costs through economies of scale. Rollups also have the effect of increasing the valuation mult...
Read MoreOur Thoughts regarding New Exit Strategies for Today's Venture Capitalists
It is a fact that venture capitalism today is not what it used to be. The bountiful returns of the dotcom years are long gone and venture capital (VC) firms are now struggling to exit their investments via initial public offerings (IPOs) or mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Also, a new regulatory ...
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