Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

My challenge is to convince investor to invest in my fund which specializes on full spectrum algorithmic  trading and asset allocation. Because a lot of the technologies, from data sources, ETL, to high  performance computing grid, etc. are built in house and proprietary, we are obliged to not to reveal too  much information that would impair our competitive advantage in the market.

Selection

The tool we apply is to storytelling, with appropriate abstraction and visualization to describe the  general concept of generating our strategies without telling what the strategies are exactly. This  storytelling approach include not only the visuals for the products we offer but also the investing  philosophies we have on value as well as our employees.

Application

For each strategy, we designate a carefully chosen color to indicate its importance and category, from  signal to noise, and from equities to bonds, etc. We also have an abstract roadmap that describes how  an idea was born with systematic research and test. It is also very helpful to tell our investors our  founding philosophies and the type of people we value highly. A story with the right cause and mission  really will resonate with the right investors. Although not all visiting investors buy our stories. Most of  the investors are very intrigued to know more about our investment philosophies from the demos we  show as well as our fund culture and hiring procedures.

Insight

A picture is worth a thousand words. Oftentimes, people are lost in the details and forgot the overall  picture. And in the case where the details are not ought to be told, an effective way to convey ideas and  philosophies becomes very important. A good demo also is worth a thousand PowerPoint slides. But at  the core, it’s the comprehensive storytelling of how everything starts, how things work (visually) right  now, and how things will work in the future. The comprehensive story is tied to the funders and their  philosophies.

Approach

To achieve the above task, each step of the roadmap needs to be broken down to smaller pieces, and  each piece needs a convincing yet simple visual media for the investors. Although there are options of  hiring out third-party design companies to provide the entire suite of visual solutions, it is always better  to do everything in house to maintain the original recipe of how things work. A high quality presentation  also indicates the professionalism and culture of the fund and the pursuit of excellence should always be  in our mind.


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge My challenge is to convince investor to invest in my fund which specializes on full spectrum algorithmic trading and asset allocation . Because a lot of the technologies , from data sources , ETL , to high performance computing grid , etc . are built in house and proprietary , we are obliged to not to reveal too much information that would impair our competitive advantage in the market . Selection The tool we apply is to storytelling , with appropriate abstraction and visualization to describe the general concept of generating our strategies without telling what the strategies are exactly . This storytelling approach include not only the visuals for the products we offer but also the investing philosophies we have on value as well as our employees . Application For each strategy , we designate a carefully chosen color to indicate its importance and category , from signal to noise , and from equities to bonds , etc . We also have an abstract roadmap that describes how an idea was born with systematic research and test . It is also very helpful to tell our investors our founding philosophies and the type of people we value highly . A story with the right cause and mission really will resonate with the right investors . Although not all visiting investors buy our stories . Most of the investors are very intrigued to know more about our investment philosophies from the demos we show as well as our fund culture and hiring procedures . Insight A picture is worth a thousand words . Oftentimes , people are lost in the details and forgot the overall picture . And in the case where the details are not ought to be told , an effective way to convey ideas and philosophies becomes very important . A good demo also is worth a thousand PowerPoint slides . But at the core , it ’s the comprehensive storytelling of how everything starts , how things work ( visually ) right now , and how things will work in the future . The comprehensive story is tied to the funders and their philosophies . Approach To achieve the above task , each step of the roadmap needs to be broken down to smaller pieces , and each piece needs a convincing yet simple visual media for the investors . Although there are options of hiring out third - party design companies to provide the entire suite of visual solutions , it is always better to do everything in house to maintain the original recipe of how things work . A high quality presentation also indicates the professionalism and culture of the fund and the pursuit of excellence should always be in our mind .