The good spirit in the background and at the same
time the strict eye of Pretiosum Ventures: Managing
Partner Yana Abramova is a master of motivation,
the contact person for ambitious tech start-ups,
dealing with anything from legal issues to HR and
always having the complex topic of finances under
control. New business innovations and measures for
process optimization are also among the specialties
of the committed career changer, who not only
plays the role of a caring daughter and sister in her
private life, but also makes a major contribution to
skillfully bringing the Pretiosum Ventures family
together.
Being an alumni board member of the Cambridge Judge Business School, an ambassador for Tech Nation UK, and former exceptional Tech Talent Visa holder, she has worked in different countries across the globe and speaks five languages.
And as if that weren‘t enough, Yana’s infectious passion and sense of trends for innovations, finance, IT technologies and the finer things in life also benefits our online readers in this interview. The London-based finance expert and multi-talent with a proud following of over 14 tousand on social media @vcwannabe reveals her insights into the finance industry and shares her best practical guidance.
Yana, why did you decide to move into venture capital? Was starting a fund always the plan?
I started my career working in a $1.5bn investment fund and advising international start-ups on their expansion to the UK before launching Pretiosum Ventures in 2019. One thing led to another, but I always knew I wanted to build my career in the tech space.
What is your favorite part of being an investor?
I love what I do, and that’s what gets me up in the morning. Being an early-stage VC investor means that you see, since its very inception, tech companies that have the potential to change the world. I work closely with our portfolio companies, and you can appreciate the results of your work almost immediately.
So, in essence:
a) you work with some of the smartest people;
b) you are always the first one to spot emerging trends and innovation;
c) you can see the impact of your work straightaway;
d) every day, you learn because no day is the same.
How do you evaluate whether someone’s idea is strong enough to invest in? As a founder, how do you demonstrate your vision?
In the early stages, it is all about the founding team. Then comes the market, the product and the right timing. I love founders who have a clear vision and can demonstrate it to people around them, so by the end of your first conversation; you should have thought, “I’d love to go and work for them!”. When the founder’s vision is backed by numbers or solid validation of the proof of concept – that’s where the magic happens.
Why are there so few women in the VC space? What challenges do you experience as you build your career?
The landscape is changing, and we have more and more women starting in the industry. The statistics show that in Europe, only 15% of VC Partners are women; in the US, the number is even lower at 12%. However, a couple of years ago, we were not nearly where the world is today. I think there are challenges in any industry; it is vital to do what is right, work hard and not get distracted/discouraged by setbacks.
You are a true multi-talent. What motivates you?
I just know what I do and where I am going – it is all about setting goals.
Why are there so few women in the Web3/crypto space?
Women have always been systematically steered away from STEM-related subjects from a young age, as a result limiting their access and opportunities to go into technical careers in later life. I can see why people may be wary and have concerns about inclusivity in this industry. Still, it’s an incredibly warm and welcoming space that has an ever-increasing awareness of its disparity issues and is actively working to tackle them.
How did you manage to learn 5 languages?
Some of them were acquired in the work process: I speak English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian. I think learning languages, as with anything else in life, is a mindset. You can do that, or you cannot – you only need to decide.
You fluently speak five languages whilst managing an early-stage VC fund. How do you stay productive throughout the day? What is a typical day in the life?
In the VC world, no day is the same. To manage my time more effectively, I usually divide the week into blocks where I: a) spend time with our portfolio companies, as they are constantly growing, hiring, building and raising more capital, and b) spend time with potential investments and deal sourcing, c) talk to other VC investors d) work on fundraising.
Success is such a subjective concept that everyone is likely to view it differently. What does it mean to you? What makes you happy?
I am happy when I can see the results of my work. For example, when companies we have invested in/helped at Pretiosum make a real difference in the world (speaking about hundreds of businesses or millions of people) or see the firm grows and takes new heights.
What is the best lesson that you have been given?
There are two:
- You never have to miss a chance. Never.
- When you do something, things will start to happen.
Were there any people or experiences that strongly influenced you?
If you want to achieve a goal – try everything you possibly can, and eventually, you will succeed. One will be surprised to see that there is more than one road to a destination, and you can achieve your goal in multiple ways. It may take more time, but the process also shapes you. To me, it was a story when I failed ten times, succeeding only on the eleventh, while most people gave up after trying only three. To date, I am still grateful I did not give up back then, as this process heavily influenced my life.
Follow:
- @Yana_vc on Twitter
- @Yana_vc on YouTube
- @Vcwannabe on Instagram
- Linkedin: Yana Abramova
- www.pretiosum.vc
Picture Credits: Thomas Van Cam