EP 39: Sim Desai is Shaking Up Secondary Markets with $4.25M in Fresh Capital

In this episode, I talked with Sim Desai, founder and CEO of Hiive, a platform to buy and sell secondary shares that recently raised $4.25 Million. Sim and I give a masterclass on the secondary market. If you’re looking to gain an insight into that world, this episode is for you. Sim also talks about his switch from a career in private equity brokerage to changing how people trade private company secondary shares with his platform, Hiive. He wants to make trading easier and clearer for everyone by using automation and transparency. Hiive works to improve the buying and selling experience in a market that's usually not very transparent. Sim explains the regulatory hoops you’ve got to jump through to list your shares and how Hiive adds value and streamlines processes in the secondary market. He also shares his initial fundraising adventure and the strategic thinking behind it while discussing the ups and downs of Hiive’s fundraising journey and what they learned along the way. Here's what you're in for: 00:00 Intro 00:37  Sim's background in private equity and Hiive's creation 04:38  Typical companies in the secondary market 07:05  Who are the typical buyers in secondary markets? 12:53  How Hive reduces transaction fees 14:39  How to list in the secondary market 17:42  How Hive optimizes secondary market transactions. 21:16  Raising capital for Hiive 26:48  Challenges and outcomes of Hive’s fundraising journey 32:53  Market overview and predictions for the secondary 36:40  Advice to founders 41:12 Outro This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders. Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders   Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc ABOUT SIM DESAI Sim Desai combines extensive industry experience with a forward-thinking approach to reshape the secondary market. His background in private equity brokerage at Setter Capital laid the groundwork for Hiive, which simplifies transactions and increases transparency for private company shares. At Hiive, Sim leads initiatives that challenge traditional market processes, emphasizing the importance of technology in providing liquidity and fair pricing. Connect with Sim Desai on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sim-desai-89835a1a4/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simdesaihivе ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders. ABOUT JASON Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development. You can reach out to Jason through: Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/