Episode E101 - Corinne Bortniker- Radiate Capital

Hi Impactful listener!

In this episode of the Female VC Lab Podcast, host Barbara Bickham speaks with Corinne Bortniker, the principal at Radiate Capital. Corinne shares her journey from equity capital markets to venture capital and delves into her investment thesis focused on health and fintech companies. Tune in to explore the overlap between these sectors, the future of venture capital, and Corinne’s insights into the evolving landscape of finance and social good.

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Key Points Discussed

• Corinne’s career journey from Equity Capital Markets (ECM) to venture capital.

• Radiate Capital’s investment thesis centered around health and fintech.

• The synergy between economic stability and health well-being.

• Expectations for the evolution of venture capital over the next two years.

• The importance of financial and social returns in investment strategies.

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Chapters

• 00:00:00 - 00:00:15: Introduction

• 00:00:15 - 00:01:17: Corinne’s career journey and what inspired her to become a venture capitalist

• 00:01:17 - 00:03:06: Radiate Capital’s investment thesis

• 00:03:06 - 00:04:15: Corinne’s current learning focus on the overlap between health and fintech

• 00:04:15 - 00:05:19: Predictions on the evolution of venture capital

• 00:05:19 - 00:05:38: Contact information and closing remarks

Full Topic Guide

Title: Exploring the Intersection of Health and Fintech with Corinne Bortniker

Subheader: Venture Capital Insights from the Principal at Radiate Capital on Health, Fintech, and Social Returns

Introduction

In today’s episode of the Female VC Lab Podcast, host Barbara Bickham sits down with Corinne Bortniker, Principal at Radiate Capital, an affiliate fund of Cohen Circle. Corinne brings a wealth of experience from her time in Equity Capital Markets (ECM) and shares her passion for health and fintech investments that drive both financial and social returns.

Corinne’s Journey from ECM to Venture Capital

Corinne Bortniker’s career started in the niche area of Equity Capital Markets within investment banking, where she assisted companies in going public and raising capital. This role allowed her to engage with founders and their visions at a late stage in their company lifecycle. Her transition to venture capital enabled her to work with companies at an earlier stage, directly impacting their growth and success. This shift was driven by her desire to be involved in the foundational journeys of companies and influence their trajectories more profoundly.

Radiate Capital’s Investment Thesis

Radiate Capital focuses on growth in health and fintech companies tackling critical global issues. The firm’s investment thesis is rooted in the extensive experience and thematic focus areas of its General Partners (GPs). Health and fintech sectors are experiencing rapid growth, driven by technological innovation, demographic trends, regulatory changes, and financial ecosystem players. Radiate Capital seeks out innovative platforms and products that bridge gaps, enhance consumer experiences, and drive sector transformation with an emphasis on value and digital services.

The Synergy Between Health and Fintech

A noteworthy insight shared by Corinne is the critical overlap between economic stability and health well-being. She spends considerable time exploring solutions that target this intersection, recognizing that economic stability often underpins health improvements. This focus aligns with Radiate Capital's dual mission of generating financial returns and contributing to social good.

The Future of Venture Capital

Corinne envisions a future where venture capital places equal importance on financial returns and social impact. She hopes for clearer definitions and better tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that capture both financial and social returns. By fostering greater accessibility in fintech and health, innovative funds and investment structures can significantly contribute to societal improvements over the next two years.

Notable Quotes

1. "It was through my role in ECM that I got exposure to founders and their vision and their storytelling." – Corinne Bortniker

2. "We are looking to identify platforms and products in these ecosystems that are underpinned by truly innovative approaches and technologies." – Corinne Bortniker

Fun Facts or Interesting Tidbits

1. Corinne’s favorite reading spot is the waiting room of a doctor’s appointment, as she finds it grounding to learn about health while being immersed in the environment.

2. Radiate Capital's portfolio focuses on bridging societal and geographical gaps through technological innovation.

Episode Resource: Learning, Reading, and Listening

Here are some of the resources that Corinne Bortniker mentioned during the podcast episode on learning, reading, and listening:

Books:

American Fitness: The Future of Health and Well-being: This is the book Corinne was reading in the context of exploring the health ecosystem and its challenges.

Topics:

Economic Stability and Health Well-being: Corinne highlights the important overlap between economic stability and health well-being, which she has been studying closely.

For more detailed information and links, you may check the respective platforms or search these titles online.

Featured Guest Bio

Corinne Bortniker is a Director at Cohen Circle where she supports SPAC deal execution and venture capital investments. Previously, Corinne was a Vice President at Wells Fargo Securities, focused on Technology, Media, and Telecom Equity Capital Markets. She has extensive experience executing equity capital markets transactions, raising proceeds for public and private companies. Prior to Wells Fargo Securities, she was an Equity Capital Markets analyst at Cowen Inc. Corinne holds a B.A. in Business and Psychology from Brandeis University.

• Corinne Bortniker LinkedIn

Fund Information

Cohen Circle is an investment firm founded by financial services pioneers, Betsy Cohen and her son Daniel Cohen. Since 2015, the firm has provided transformative capital to late-stage fintech companies. Today, the firm makes investments across the capital structure in the fintech, technology, and impact spaces, with $5bn+ in capital raised.

• Cohen Circle Website

• LinkedIn | Twitter

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Best,
Barbara