toptal.com
Contact us: +1.888.604.3188
Bruce Bower, Finance Expert in London, United Kingdom
Bruce Bower

Finance Expert in London, United Kingdom

Member since January 28, 2020
Bruce is a non-exec director based in London. After working as a fund manager for many years, he now helps growing companies in all industries with strategy, financial management, and fundraising. Bruce has assisted numerous early-stage companies in crafting their strategy, financial plan, and messaging to raise millions from institutional investors and angels. He also helped them to access debt financing and avoid additional equity dilution.
Bruce is now available for hire
Hire Bruce

Career Highlights

Education

Industry Expertise

  • Finance
  • Investment Banking
  • Venture Capital & Private Equity
  • Healthcare Services
  • Retail
  • Financial Modeling
  • Fintech
  • Startups

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Independent Director

    2015 - PRESENT
    Canarias Holding
    • Helped prepare Echobox for a fundraising process, including the strategic review of the business building the financial model and constructing the pitch deck. Introduced the company to its lead investor, leading to a GBP 2.5 million raise.
    • Assisted Smile 2 Impress, a leading Spanish direct-to-consumer orthodontics company, in preparing for a EUR 30 million fundraising process. Helped with corporate strategy, financial planning, and identifying key hires in its target geographies.
    • Assisted Boustead Beef in its $23 million acquisition and refinancing of cattle ranching and processing assets in Zimbabwe.
    Focus areas: Fundraising Consultant, Financial Analysis, Consulting, Strategy

  • Non-executive Director

    2015 - PRESENT
    Medefer
    • Raised GBP 12 million in equity over three rounds from institutions and angel investors around the world, constructing the pitch deck and financial model used to support the capital raise.
    • Led the formulation of the five-year strategic operating plan, working closely with the board of directors.
    • Authored the corporate finance strategy, which led to the pursuit of debt financing options and a raise of $300,000 low-cost borrowing to finance growth.
    • Sourced and managed relationships with various Eastern European software development providers to help the firm's IT department to scale faster and more cost-effectively.
    • Assisted the company with upgraded accounting and control within the finance function.
    Focus areas: Strategic Planning, Capital Raising, Finance

  • Chairman

    2010 - PRESENT
    Life & Soul Pictures
    • Created fundraising materials and built financial models for guiding the business and forecasting various scenarios.
    • Raised over one million in development finance for various projects, including "Heart of a Soldier," written by an Oscar-winning writer.
    • Raised 200,000 in debt financing for general working capital for the production company at competitive terms.
    • Wrote story treatments for numerous film and TV projects.
    • Provided outsourced film and TV development services to other production companies and mini-majors.
    Focus areas: Film & Television, Equity Financing, Debt Financing, Financing, Project Evaluation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

  • Partner and Portfolio Manager

    2010 - 2014
    VPE Capital
    • Produced top decile returns and never underperformed the benchmark as a portfolio manager on a $200 million fund.
    • Researched over 400 stocks in the Eastern Europe universe and managed a team of analysts.
    • Marketed the funds globally, leading to a capital raise of $375+ million from the top 25 US endowments and foundations, US and EU family offices, and sovereign wealth funds.
    • Interacted daily with management teams in Russian and English.
    • Evaluated and led diligence for private equity deals on behalf of our core investor.
    Focus areas: Financial Analysis, Fundamental Analysis, Portfolio Management, Equities, Valuation, Trading

  • Portfolio Manager

    2005 - 2009
    Kazimir Partners
    • Conducted fundamental research, including meeting management, constructing discounted cash flow models, and creating company desk notes for a universe of 350+ listed equities in Russia and the former Soviet Union.
    • Managed the $200 million Kazimir Russia Growth Fund, a long-only Russian equities fund.
    • Returned cumulative +30.1% net vs RTS Index -31.9% (Class A shares). Ranked #1 in the peer group of Russian managers and funds from July 2006 to July 2009.
    • Marketed the fund to global institutional clients, with a focus on US endowments and foundations.
    • Managed a team of analysts and the creation of a research IT system.
    Focus areas: Financial Analysis, Fund Management, Portfolio Management

Education

  • Master's degree in Political Economy
    2009 - 2010
    London School of Economics and Political Science - London, England
  • Bachelor's degree in Economics
    1999 - 2003
    University of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

To view more profiles

Join Toptal
Share it with others
Hire the top 3% of freelance finance experts TM