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Arjun Batra, Finance Expert in New York, NY, United States
Arjun Batra

Finance Expert in New York, NY, United States

Member since February 16, 2020
Arjun has executed nearly 30 debt, equity, M&A, and capital raising transactions worth over $2 billion, across the developed and emerging markets. He has worked at leading investment firms (Houlihan Lokey, BlackRock), and at several startups, both as a co-founder and in other leadership roles. Arjun enjoys freelancing as it allows him to use his diverse transactional and operational experience to help companies achieve their growth potential.
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Career Highlights

Education

Case studies

Industry Expertise

  • Finance
  • Investment Banking
  • Venture Capital & Private Equity
  • Real Estate
  • Financial Modeling
  • Fintech
  • Startups
  • Consulting

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Advisor

    2020 - PRESENT
    FarmTogether
    • Advised about a tech-enabled farmland investment platform, playing a key role in capital markets strategy and development.
    • Developed the company's capital markets roadmap, investor pitch deck, and other marketing materials.
    • Spearheaded the launch of a $50-to-$100-million open-end fund vehicle that will make farmland investments in the US. Responsible for investor outreach, facilitating due diligence, and other aspects of the process.
    Focus areas: Negotiation, Structuring, Fundraising, Capital Markets, Investments, United States

  • VP of Finance and Operations

    2020 - PRESENT
    Envizzo
    • Led the finance and operations for a B2B marketplace that connects real estate operators to turnkey furnishing solutions for a range of property types (vacation rentals, offices, hotels, and so on).
    • Oversaw a company's financial and operating activities, including monthly reporting, working capital management, procurement, and logistics.
    • Revamped the financial model for internal decision making and external fundraising efforts.
    • Led the collection effort for nearly $1 million of accounts receivable and restructured vendor payables, enhancing the company's cash position by nearly $500,000.
    • Led the company's COVID-19 response effort, including streamlining of expenses and operational inefficiencies, as well as securing a critical PPP loan to extend runway.
    • Served as part of the senior management team and regularly weighed in on company strategy and other critical decisions.
    Focus areas: Strategy, Operations Analytics, Fundraising, Financial Modeling, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), United States, CFO

  • Entrepreneur in Residence

    2020 - PRESENT
    Applico
    • Recruited into the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program for the world's first Platform Innovation company.
    • Advised C-suite executives of Fortune 100 firms as well as multibillion-dollar companies on building and scaling platform businesses.
    • Led feasibility studies, market research, financial modeling, and client presentations to make recommendations to key stakeholders.
    Focus areas: Management Consulting, Business Planning, C-suite, Pitch Decks, Financial Modeling, Consulting, United States

  • Financial Consultant

    2019 - PRESENT
    Independent Consulting
    • Advised startups and mid-size companies in the financial services, fintech, and technology industries on initiatives that included planning, forecasting and budgeting, investment strategy, fundraising, sales growth, and profitability enhancements.
    • Served as the interim CFO for a fintech payments startup during its seed round with responsibilities that included introductions to venture capitalists, refining the pitch deck, creating the financial model, and implementing financial processes, helping the company to secure commitments for $400,000 from angel investors.
    • Served as the part-time CFO for a U.S.-based fintech lender during its debt fundraising process, with responsibilities that included preparing a pitch deck, financial projections, and the data room, while facilitating the buy-side due diligence process, helping to secure term sheets for debt financing.
    Focus areas: Profitability Analysis, CFO, Equity, Debt Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Growth Strategy, Fundraising, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Investments, Consumer Finance

  • Director, Capital Markets

    2019 - PRESENT
    Fvndit
    • Led the capital raising efforts for a Vietnam-focused P2P lending platform, as it looks to raise its first institutional credit facility and growth equity capital.
    • Updated the financial model and business plan to incorporate new funding initiatives and growth plans. Led and facilitated investor outreach, due diligence, structuring, and negotiations.
    • Sourced term sheets for $5-$10 million of debt financing from credit funds. Setting up a structure that can scale to $50-$100 million in the next two years. Actively engaged in due diligence with investors.
    • Made regular recommendations on business strategy, growth initiatives, and profitability. Conducted an extensive profitability-and-unit-economic analysis to determine core customer segments to target.
    Focus areas: Business Planning, P2P, Lending, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Asset-based Lending, Credit Analysis, Venture Capital, Capital Structuring, Capital Raising, Investments, Consumer Finance

  • Co-founder | Chief Investment Officer

    2015 - 2019
    Lendable
    • Launched and scaled a fintech credit platform focused on alternative lending opportunities in the emerging markets (primarily Africa and South East Asia), opening up a new asset class for investors.
    • Led the investment team (eight FTEs), overseeing all aspects of investment strategy, origination, credit, and risk management.
    • Structured and raised over $40 million in asset-backed lending programs from credit funds, family offices, and impact investors. Structured a closed-end fund vehicle with a target size of $100 million.
    • Deployed over $40 million to non-bank lending platforms in the emerging markets, primarily via debt instruments such as senior secured credit facilities, term loans, and whole loan purchase agreements.
    • Managed the portfolio post-investment to deliver 14% IRR during my tenure.
    • Helped, alongside CEO, raise over $7 million seed and Series A financings from notable VC funds.
    • Led strategy and finance projects, including development of financial projections, analysis of unit economics and overall profitability, etc., recommending changes to the Board on a regular basis.
    Focus areas: Capital Raising, Business Strategy, Lending, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Consumer Lending, Alternative Investments, Structured Finance, Cash Flow Modeling, Asset-based Lending, Private Credit, Investment Monitoring, Investment Decision-making, Investment Strategy, Due Diligence, Investments, CFO, Consumer Finance

  • Vice President

    2010 - 2015
    BlackRock
    • Led the execution of numerous M&A transactions, equity investments, and strategic partnerships, deploying the firm's balance sheet capital. Oversaw all aspects of deal execution, including financial analysis, due diligence, structuring, negotiations, and documentation.
    • Oversaw the firm's inorganic fintech strategy, sourcing and executing transactions with fintech companies across marketplace lending, robo-advisory, payments, and electronic trading.
    • Worked on various notable transactions including the acquisition of Claymore ($7 billion Canadian ETF platform), acquisition of Swiss Re's $7 billion private equity business; acquisition of MGPA ($12 billion global real estate investment firm), strategic partnership with MarketAxess (leading bond e-trading platform), equity investment in Prosper Marketplace (leading P2P platform), and equity investment in Personal Capital (leading online advisory platform).
    • Promoted to vice president on the fast-track (<5% of employees at the firm).
    • Made recommendations to C-level executives on various corporate finance and strategic initiatives, including stock buybacks, capital structure, business expansion, and new product/market entry.
    Focus areas: Valuation Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Investment Decision-making, Business Development, Joint Ventures, Strategic Partnerships, Fintech, Corporate Finance, Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A (Buy-side), Due Diligence, United States, Consumer Finance

  • Financial Analyst

    2009 - 2010
    Houlihan Lokey
    • Advised middle-market and Fortune 500 companies on M&A, private placements, and debt restructuring transactions.
    • Created valuation models, information memoranda, legal documentation, and oversaw the entire transaction execution process including investor outreach, due diligence, and final negotiations.
    • Served as the lead analyst on the following representative transactions: a $65 million merger of two medical device companies, a $210 million debt restructuring of a cutting-edge laser business, and private placement transaction for a publicly listed BDC.
    • Created valuation opinions for a variety of situations, including M&A deals, collateral value assessments and business reorganizations.
    Focus areas: Valuation Modeling, Private Placements, Debt Restructuring, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A (Buy-side), Due Diligence, United States

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering
    2004 - 2009
    University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • Bachelor's Degree in Finance
    2004 - 2009
    University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA, USA

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