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Lambert Despaux, Finance Expert in Barcelona, Spain
Lambert Despaux

Finance Expert in Barcelona, Spain

Member since April 1, 2020
Lambert is a private markets investment professional who has executed dozens of transactions amounting to more than €1.5 billion. He is passionate about supporting the translation of business ideas into reality, and freelancing allows him to help a diverse base of clients on a variety of fundraising and M&A projects. Before founding Schema Capital, a micro-VC fund manager, Lambert worked for organizations of all sizes, including BNP Paribas.
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Career Highlights

Education

Case studies

Industry Expertise

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

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Co-Founder & COO | CFO

    2021 - PRESENT
    Angel Protocol
    • Designed the architecture of the protocol, its decentralized governance and the token economics.
    • Led the product management process, from ideation and conceptualization through market research and user requirements to agile project management across business, design and engineering teams.
    • Established finance function including budgets, financial dashboards, accounting system, spending policies and protocols.
    • Drafted fundraising documentation leading to a $300,000 pre-seed round.
    • Liaised with strategic partners to put in place legal structuring for the token generation event.
    Focus areas: Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, CFO, COO, Operations, Finance, Management, Startups, Fundraising

  • Fundraising Consultant - Advisory Board for Finance

    2020 - PRESENT
    Artificial Intelligence/Fintech Startup
    • Performed initial audit of existing collateral and materials to assess missing documentation and draw a mission plan.
    • Ran full market research; defined the customer universe and calculated market and sub-market sizes, researched and qualified competitors, and researched competitor pricing.
    • Analyzed the business model in light of market research and offered suggestions on strategy.
    • Drafted the financial documentation; budget, revenue projections, variable costs projections, cash flow projections, and current and projected cap tables.
    • Led brainstorming sessions with client to define the narrative, structure, and key messages of the investor deck.
    • Drafted the layout of the slides of the investor deck.
    • Established a long and short list of qualified investors and put in place a fundraising strategy.
    • Assisted with reaching out to a few investors in accordance with the fundraising strategy.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Company Strategy, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Investing, Investments, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Fundraising Consultant, Competitive Strategy, Market Research, Cost Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Modeling, Investor Presentations, Fundraising, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Fintech, Startup Funding, Early-stage Venture Capital, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Startups, Startups, Financial Services

  • Interim CFO

    2019 - PRESENT
    Fintech Startup
    • Analyzed the economic progress of the company to evaluate future milestones and financing needs.
    • Reviewed and corrected the budget to ensure compatibility with the company’s medium-term projected roadmap and milestones.
    • Analyzed the company's cap table and ran simulations to evaluate the impact of different forms of financing (convertible note vs. equity) and different amounts.
    • Reviewed and corrected the narrative and structure of the investor deck.
    • Advised on fundraising strategy (targeting) and message (communication).
    • Created revenue and cash flow financial projections.
    • Assisted the team throughout the investment process; introduced investors to the team and assisted with the modeling of the impact of investment terms.
    • Created a financial dashboard to monitor to follow-up on business development and the financial health of the company.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Company Strategy, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Investing, Investments, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Market Research, Fractional CFO, Interim CFO, Fundraising Consultant, Blockchain, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Budgeting, Fundraising, Fintech, Startup Funding, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Early-stage Venture Capital, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Startups, Startups, Financial Services

  • Partner and Chief Investment Officer

    2018 - PRESENT
    Schema Capital
    • Performed in-depth market analysis leading to the identification of three investment themes with high-growth potential and drafted the funds' investment thesis.
    • Built the financial model for a €50 million early-stage VC fund and defined the fund's investment strategy.
    • Wrote the fund manager's operational guidelines and set up a rigorous investment workflow process to manage investments from sourcing to signing.
    • Drafted marketing documents for investors for the fundraising of the first evergreen fund and the second closed-end €50 million fund.
    • Sourced and reviewed over 100 early-stage fintech investment opportunities per year.
    • Developed investment proposal documents destined to the fund's investment committee focusing on market analysis (size, drivers, incumbents, and pain points), product and team, technology, strategic analysis and competition, exit strategy, and risk assessment.
    • Managed the investor due diligence processes (legal, tax, and technical) and negotiated contracts (term sheets, SPAs, and convertible notes) for three investments ($500,000 of accumulated value).
    • Drafted quarterly reporting documents to the attention of investors.
    • Provided guidance and advisory services to portfolio companies (fundraising strategy and documentation, financial modeling and budgeting).
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Board Presentations, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Company Profiles, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Market Research, Valuation, Fundraising, Financial Modeling, Due Diligence, Blockchain Platforms, Blockchain, Venture Capital, Fintech, Startup Funding, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Early-stage Venture Capital, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Startups, Startups, Financial Services

  • Financial Consultant

    2020 - 2020
    Fintech Startup (neobanking) in Stealth Mode
    • Defined the perimeter market research on neobanking with a list of 150+ global traditional and challenger banks and targeted 40 relevant European entities.
    • Segmented the available supply to find the feature mix that would allow a new entrant to be competitive.
    • Focused on special feature themes and identified preliminary avenues for unique selling points.
    Focus areas: Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Finance, Business Strategy, Product-market Fit, Market Research, Fintech, Startup Funding, Banking & Finance, Early-stage Venture Capital, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Startups, Startups, Financial Services

  • M&A Consultant

    2020 - 2020
    UK-based M&A boutique
    • Assisted an M&A boutique with the valuation of a UK-based target of the alcoholic beverages sector.
    • Analyzed the target's financial statements and reconciled figures with those provided in the investment memorandum.
    • Built P&L and cash flow statements and extended the target's management assumptions.
    • Performed market research to calculate WACC and set trading and transaction multiples.
    • Valued the company using the DCF, trading multiples and comparable transactions methods.
    • Provided a minority stake analysis and impact on valuation.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Company Profiles, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Market Research, Private Equity, Corporate Finance Consultant, Revenue & Expense Projections, Comparable Company Analysis, Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Valuation, Banking & Finance, Financial Services

  • Angel Investor

    2017 - 2018
    Lambert Despaux
    • Reviewed investment memoranda and technical papers of blockchain-related early-stage projects.
    • Performed market research (size, drivers, incumbents) and identified pain points, opportunities, and threats.
    • Oversaw due diligence of team, technical documentation, and legal documentation.
    • Financed 12 early-stage projects with a blockchain component (mainly in Infrastructure and financial services).
    • Divested acquired interests on secondary markets, generating returns of c. 4x.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financing, Financials, Market Research, Venture Capital, Blockchain Platforms, Blockchain, Technology, Market Assessment, Due Diligence, Fintech, Startup Funding, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Early-stage Venture Capital, Early-stage Funding, Early-stage Startups, Startups, Financial Services

  • Associate

    2015 - 2017
    InfraRed Capital Partners
    • Participated in the sourcing of dozens of value-added real estate investment opportunities in France and Spain.
    • Researched and documented suitable investment opportunities to assess feasibility and alignment with the fund strategy.
    • Participated in all aspects of the property investment process, including financial modeling, drafting LOIs, following-up on the technical, environmental and legal due diligence, soliciting and selecting banks, and negotiating SPAs or title deeds.
    • Drafted exhaustive investment memoranda for submission to the Investment Committee for three projects.
    • Participated in the asset management of four assets, including follow-up of CAPEX and letting campaigns, analysis of offers in view of disposal, and negotiation with potential buyers.
    • Researched and analyzed investment strategies in specific target markets and drafted new investment theme propositions.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Board Presentations, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Company Profiles, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Revenue & Expense Projections, Valuation, Comparable Company Analysis, Real Estate, Private Equity, Due Diligence, Market Research, Financial Modeling, Financial Services

  • Analyst

    2012 - 2015
    BNP Paribas Real Estate
    • Advised clients on cross-border real estate investment strategies across Europe.
    • Provided investment buy-side advice to a family office for the acquisition of the largest central Paris deal at the time (€1.2 billion), including the valuation of assets, cash flow modeling, and assistance in due diligence.
    • Participated in the production of pitch books, asset appraisals, teasers, and information memoranda in the context of cross-border disposals.
    • Built automated specific cash flow models for portfolio logistics investments and office and hotel developments.
    • Assisted with the establishment of a new international investment unit and the opening of offices in Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Board Presentations, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Company Profiles, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Revenue & Expense Projections, Valuation, Market Research, Due Diligence, Financial Modeling, Real Estate, Financial Services

  • M&A Analyst

    2011 - 2011
    Easton Corporate Finance
    • Prepared pitch books for mid-market sell-side mandates: deep market reviews, strategic analysis, and research on comparable targets and potential acquirers.
    • Built financial models for the valuation of potential targets using different methods: DCF, trading multiples, comparable transactions.
    • Built investor-ready LBO models to assess valuations and provide as collateral for investment memoranda.
    • Drafted investment memoranda comprising market analysis, company presentation, strategic analysis, financials, and valuation.
    • Coordinated the due diligence process for the sell-side. Managed the data room, answered investor questions, facilitated additional information, and assisted with the organisation of management meetings with potential investors.
    Focus areas: Pitch Decks, Board Presentations, Company Strategy, Company Analysis, Company Profiles, Finance, Income Statements, Profit & Loss (P&L), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Investing, Investments, Investment Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Financing, Financials, Financial Statements, Market Research, Private Equity, Corporate Finance Consultant, Revenue & Expense Projections, Valuation, Comparable Company Analysis, Corporate Finance, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Banking & Finance, Financial Services

Education

  • Master of Science Degree in Management
    2008 - 2012
    EDHEC Business School - France
  • Master of Science Degree in Corporate Finance
    2008 - 2012
    EDHEC Business School - France
  • Preparatory Course (Classe Préparatoire Aux Grandes ÉColes [CPGE]) in Math, Applied Math, and Physics
    2006 - 2008
    Lycée Joffre - France

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