Classic Case of Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware)
My biggest mistake was the purchase of a presale condominium unit in the Philippines as an investment without doing sufficient due diligence on the developer and the process itself. Investor puts singular belief in property salesperson I just believed what the real estate broker told me and now I’m at risk of defaulting and losing all the down payments that I have made over the course of more than two…
Read Full PostSilent Restaurant Partner Finds His Voice Too Late After Too Much Golf
A few years back, a Japanese colleague of mine, Kobayashi Takeru (not his real name), decided to invest in opening a ramen restaurant in Bangkok. Japanese restaurants had yet to reach the popularity in the Bangkok dining market that they have achieved today and so there appeared to be a lot of space for further…
Read Full PostHow Poor Execution Turns a Great Idea into the Worst Investment
Prelude In early 2017, I was shown an opportunity to invest in a US$6.5m simple agreement for a future equity (SAFE) note issued by BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc., a $1bn Canadian e–commerce company. All of business’ facets looked solid My client had made previous investments in the company and had a strong conviction in the team, the company, the market and this “new marketplace” opportunity. The company sells heavy construction supplies, such as tiles and…
Read Full PostMedical house-call project investment had everything but the basics
Two years ago, I invested a large sum of money into a private equity deal to take over a family-run home doctor service. The deal was with a group of respected players, and the new money was designed to expand the business model across the country.
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