Investor
2018 - PRESENTInReach Ventures- Reviewed over 3,000 startups in the European tech space to identify potential investment opportunities and learn about trends and technologies, particularly in the HR, Fintech and Edtech sectors.
- Carried out due diligence on potential investments, analyzing the team, the financial performance of the company and forming a view on their potential.
- Assessed financial models and performance KPIs of companies while guiding entrepreneurs in understanding the levers for value creation.
- Worked with the general partner and the entrepreneurs of the portfolio companies in order to maximize shareholder value and tackling daily human resources, operational and strategic issues.
- Built a strong reputation for excellence and expertise in the startup community, both with entrepreneurs and other venture investors.
Focus areas: Investing, tech, financial models, valuation, competitive analysis, Venture Funding, Early-stage Venture CapitalHead of UK Expansion
2017 - 2017EstateGuru- Liaised with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, creating a very strong relationship with the representative and successfully guiding the sister company in preparing the operations and documentation to open a UK branch.
- Authored the loan default policy as well as expanded on the existing credit scoring model, both key requirements of the regulator.
- Oversaw both internal financial and legal procedures: directed and liaised with the external legal counsel on writing and validating key documentation, such as the default policy, the impaired loan policy, and the terms and conditions.
- Interacted with the management of the parent company and all relevant authorities in the United Kingdom.
- Ensured that all reporting obligations and deadlines were respected.
Focus areas: Real Estate Finance, Financial Regulations, OperationsHead of Business Development
2017 - 2017CyNation- Secured investments from three business angels in helping the startup fundraise at the seed stage for 1/3 of the EIS round (Enterprise Investment Scheme, a UK tax scheme to facilitate investment in early-stage companies) round.
- Defined the financial institution client strategy, as well as prepared all client marketing and sales material.
- Pitched and presented the startup at various events, including on-stage at the 2017 Lisbon Investment Summit (LIS), generating substantial client and investor interest.
- Built the internal financial model, which contained all of the sales, personnel and funding assumptions and allowed for scenario analysis, for the purpose of external fundraising efforts.
- Introduced the company to a top-tier private equity fund, allowing them to secure a pilot project with a portfolio company.
Focus areas: Business Plan Development, Business Development, Financial Modeling, FundraisingSenior Contractor
2016 - 2016Alvarez and Marsal- Carried out due diligence of a portfolio of distressed and performing loans worth £100 million belonging to a distressed bank.
- Conducted in-depth analysis of loan files with exposures of several million. This was in order to form a view on both the credit risks in the portfolio through sampling, as well as on the soundness of the underwriting procedures at the bank.
- Analyzed several complex structured finance transactions, forming a view of both the balance sheet risks resulting from them, on the standalone solidity of the transaction, as well as on the legal and financial set-up.
- Assisted the partners in the Bank Restructuring Team in preparing RFPs for large institutional projects, based on extensive knowledge of European Bank Resolution and Restructuring regulations.
- Collaborated with partners and principals in the other bank consulting practices towards completing an acquisition target due diligence on behalf of a client.
Focus areas: Financial Services, Banks, Debt Restructuring, Financial Restructuring, Turnaround, Balance Sheets, Credit Analysis, DistressedBanker
2013 - 2016European Stability Mechanism- Developed extensive working knowledge of Banking Union regulation (Single Resolution Mechanism, SRM, Banking Restructuring and Resolution Directive, BRRD), as well as Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive and its effects on banks' balance sheets.
- Represented the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF)/European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in the financial sector technical team for debtor countries of the Troika, with a focus on Cyprus (debt of €10 billion) and Ireland (€67.5 billion, of which €17.7 billion from EFSF).
- Supported the ESM’s participation in the Euro Working Group task force, with strong inputs in the negotiation of six legal documents and pricing guidelines for the Direct Bank Recapitalisation Instrument, a new financial assistance instrument.
- Developed relationships with peer institutions, including the European Commission, the European Banking Authority, the European Central Bank and national bank resolution agencies, as well as external third parties.
- Conducted extensive desktop analysis on the absolute and relative health of performance of banks in the Eurozone.
Focus areas: Financial Restructuring, Banking, Financial services, credit, NPLsFixed Income Derivatives Marketing
2005 - 2006JPMorgan- Priced complex derivatives for client transactions, with a specific focus on large bespoke hedges executed in €100 million clips of swaps of various maturities.
- Executed fixed income trades, assisting senior members of the team.
- Prepared daily market commentary, which was circulated to a list of 100+ clients of the desk and was read regularly by 50% of the distribution list.
- Prepared extensive client literature on derivative transactions, focusing on specialized derivatives instruments, focusing on inflation and interest risk hedges for long-term investors such as life insurers and pension funds.
- Assisted senior team members in providing high-quality trade execution, market intelligence and trade idea generation for some of the largest pension funds in the world, such as APG, PFZW.
Focus areas: Fixed-income Derivatives, Embedded Derivatives, fixed income, asset and liability management, Hedging
Finance Expert in London, United Kingdom
Member since July 31, 2017
Natasha transitioned to venture capital after a career in banking, built in prestigious firms such as JPMorgan and A&M. She is now a part of the investment team at a venture capital fund, where she evaluates over 1,000 startups a month. She also has hands-on experience with startups, helping CyNation and EstateGuru raise funding and expand to the UK. She joined Toptal to keep her skills up to date and help entrepreneurs access funding.
Natasha is now available for hire
Career Highlights
- InReach Ventures
- CyNation
- Alvarez and Marsal
Education
- University of Pennsylvania
- Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
- Credit Analysis
- Credit Risk
- Due Diligence
- Financial Restructuring
- Fixed Income
- Fundraising
- Seed Fundraising
Employment
Other Experience
- Starting an App Business the Right Way (Publication)Building an app-based business can be a daunting project: Within such a competitive space, how can you make your app stand out, attract and retain the right audience, and then monetize it?
- Reorganizing for Survival: Building Scenarios (Publication)In the “new normal,” how should business leaders ensure that their business is well-equipped to survive and then thrive? Scenario analysis is a handy tool: How are scenarios built and translated into financial projections?
- What to Consider in a Pandemic Business Continuity Plan (Publication)How can businesses and shareholders think about ensuring their survival in an evolving pandemic? Business continuity plans have gone out of the window. How can they be adapted to survive the current situation?
- The Price Is Right – A Pricing Strategy Overview for Consumer Companies (Publication)Pricing your products appropriately is one of the keys to the success of your company. So why do entrepreneurs often treat it as an afterthought? What are some of the available pricing strategies and how should they be applied by startup entrepreneurs?
- Imperfect Harmony: An Overview of SoundCloud vs. Spotify (Publication)Not many industries have undergone the same level of transformation as the music industry - technology has changed every facet of the industry. File streaming has been nothing short of a revolution. What can be learned from Spotify vs. SoundCloud?
- State of the Fintech Industry (with Infographic) (Publication)Tech firms have enjoyed a deluge of funding in the last few years. Fintech is no exception. Now is the time to see which companies are here to stay and can become profitable - there will be some necessary consolidation and perhaps some high-profile failures.
- What's a Startup Worth? Guidelines and Best Practices (Publication)How do you value a startup or a scaleup? This is a question that plagues both founders and investors. Arriving at a figure all parties can agree upon is not very straightforward: ultimately, valuation is more of an art than a science.
- What Happened to BlackBerry: Zombie Stock or Comeback King? (Publication)What happened to Blackberry? The company, once the most valuable in Canada, has effectively been a zombie stock for a while. Is the picture painted by the stock a fair one, particularly for a company whose revenues are up 20% YoY?
- Looks That Thrill - Inside the Booming Beauty Industry (Publication)How has the beauty industry become extremely innovative? How did Glossier and The Ordinary approach (and crack) the problem of enticing consumers, building brand loyalty and creating unique experiences? The lessons are relevant for all DTC companies.
- Looking at Failed IPOs in the Age of the Unicorn (Publication)For many years, the IPO market appeared dormant. 2019, however, is bucking the trend with a large number of high-profile tech companies going live on stock exchanges. Not all of these IPOs have been successes. What is the process and what determines success (or lack thereof)?
- Plant Power: A Look at Beyond Meat and Its Competitors (Publication)One of the most notable developments of recent years has been the boom in veganism. The Beyond Meat Company’s IPO in May 2019 captured this zeitgeist and is one of the stand-out financial events of the year. Can the company live up to the hype and satisfy its investors?
- From Allbirds to Patagucci: The Ultimate Guide to Finance Fashion (Publication)Having the right look has always been important in finance. As dress codes are relaxing and the gamut of careers are expanding, what should one wear? From Allbirds to Patagucci, a style guide for financial services.
- Lessons from Warren Buffett’s Investment Strategy and His Mistakes (Publication)Warren Buffett’s reputation as an investor has become legendary. What can an individual investor learn from Warren Buffett’s investment style, his philosophy, and some of his past mistakes?
- What is a Down Round and How to Avoid One (Publication)Anyone vaguely familiar with the venture capital industry knows that down rounds are bad news. But what exactly are they, and why do they occur? What alternatives do founders have to avoid a down round?
- How to Craft a Successful Go to Market Strategy (Publication)As a venture investor, Natasha Ketabchi spends most of her day evaluating tech startups as potential investments. In early-stage investments, Natasha finds that the three things that matter most are team, product, and sales and marketing approach—including their go to market strategy. In this article, Natasha lifts the veil on what venture investors look for in a solid GTM plan.
Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Finance2011 - 2013University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Master's degree in Economics and Statistics1999 - 2004Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi - Milano, Italy
