We created adVenturesAcademy with the goal of deepening the engagement of entrepreneurs, investors, and the growth ecosystem surrounding purpose-driven enterprises. As a world-class collective of experienced pioneers – entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts – we have traveled into the top of an active volcano in Ecuador and to the unbridled peaks of Colorado and we are headed to the majestic Channel Islands off the coast of California in April, all with the purpose of redefining the diligence process to unleash growth potential. As applications open for the 2017 adVenturesAcademy which will take place in the Channel Islands in April 2017, we catch up with Andrew Reynolds, Partner and Co Founder of Reynolds & Company Venture Partners (RCV Partners), a New York City-based investment firm that invests in high growth seed stage companies offering a product or service that enables convenience and or efficiency to the lives of their customers. Andrew is also an adviser to adVenturesAcademy and has been part of all programs to-date.
Andrew believes that there is exceptional potential in the health and wellness, food and beverage and outdoors industry right now, but entrepreneurs must be prepared: “It is an incredible time to be in the space. As consumers demand products to fit a healthier lifestyle, they are seeking out new and exciting brands as opposed to the legacy brands that have under-delivered or been slow to adapt to the evolving needs of their customers. Barriers to entry have never been lower. That said it is hyper competitive and the path to success is not without peril!”
You’re a veteran of the adVenturesAcademy program, what has your overall experience been?
The experience being a part of the adVenturesAcademy has been fantastic. I’ve traveled to some incredible places, met amazing and inspiring people and improved myself and my firm along the way. Starting with the conference in Ecuador, it has been a collaborative environment aimed to create the best program for all participants.
How is the adVenturesAcademy different from investor / entrepreneurship summits that you’ve visited before?
Alissa and team have done an amazing job devising fun, adventurous itineraries that challenge participants both mentally and physically. The exercises in the program mirror situations any entrepreneur would face running their company; aligning interests and efforts across a team, solving complex challenges, prioritizing tasks and effective communication to name a few elements. Further, the adVenturesAcademy model creates a unique environment to foster knowledge transfer from entrepreneurs, industry participants and investors alike. Launching and growing a business is not easy. adVenturesAcademy is an expanding community where everyone in the community is willing to help others build and ideally accelerate their companies’ performance whether it be through capital, advise, opening their networks or providing critical services.
What do you look for when evaluating companies? How does adVenturesAcademy change the usual due diligence model?
RCV Partners seeks to invest in and work with mission driven founders who are passionate about solving the problems they have identified and building a lasting organization. When working with and evaluating early stage companies there is often very little data to inform investment decisions. Of course, one must determine if they think it is an attractive space to be in, understand the competitive dynamics, the stage of the market, key players, etc. Specific to the target company, is the founder and their vision for the company believable and realistic, is there a capable team in place and do they understand their chosen space. adVenturesAcademy offers an intimate setting where founders and investors can really get to know each other, see how each operate when outside of their comfort zone and often providing an opportunity for both parties to realize if there is a chemistry and desire to work together.
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Here’s the perspective of Mat Franken, founder & CEO of Aunt Fannie’s, who met Andrew through adVenturesAcademy in Ecuador. Andrew invested in Aunt Fannie’s as a result and has been an invaluable member of Aunt Fannie’s’ team ever since. Mat was eager to share how Andrew’s involvement has impacted Aunt Fannie’s.
“Andrew Reynolds and I had the good fortune to join the same South American adVenturesAcademy trip. After spending time and realizing we mutually enjoyed the other, Andrew reached out as things had settled back in stateside to inquire about his potential investing in Aunt Fannie’s. A few diligence calls afterward, he flew down to Aunt Fannie’s HQ to discuss his future investment in the company. Since then, Andrew has single handedly been our most supportive investor. Not only is he an experienced operator, and understands the complexities of the entrepreneur, but our time together in Ecuador gave us an investor/founder relationship that wouldn’t have occurred under any other circumstance. We’ve been ecstatic to have Andrew as part of our journey, and his relationship with Aunt Fannie’s, beyond capital, has been irreplaceable.” Mat Franken, Founder & CEO of Aunt Fannie’s (www.auntfanniesco.com)
Who should join the next adVenturesAcademy?
If you have a product or brand that is reimagining a category, delivering functionality and has a great story, I would strongly suggest participating in the next adVenturesAcademy so you can hack growth, build resiliency and get inspired by incredible individuals.
For more information about upcoming adVenturesAcademy programs and submission deadlines, visit: http://www.adventuresacademy.org/channel-islands/
Andrew Reynolds
Andrew is Co-founder & CEO of Reynolds & Company Venture Partners. Previously an associate with Provident Group, now INTL Provident Group, where his work focused on execution and origination of domestic and cross-border private placement M&A and capital raising activities. Andrew was the lead associate for the firm on numerous transactions ranging from domestic B2B service providers and financial services assignments to emerging market (Brazil, China, South Korea, Mexico, Peru among others) based natural resource and manufacturing assignments. Played a major role in refining and streamlining practices at Provident including identifying key performance indicators for management, aiding in the development of more efficient transaction screening processes and sourcing a company-wide CRM system. Prior to investment banking, Andrew spent three years in marketing and media before entering the financial services industry. Andrew holds a BA from Denison University and MBA from ESADE.