IH

Ivy Huq Russell

Partner at Venture Crafters

San Francisco, California

Overview

Work Experience

  • Partner

    2024 - Current

  • Entrepreneur in Residence

    2023

  • Venture Fellow

    2023

  • Member Board of Trustees

    2023

  • Member of The Forum of Young Global Leader

    2019

  • Founder

    2022

    Founded a technology start-up, Maya with the focus on wellbeing. Its flagship product, Maya Apa is an anonymous wellbeing messaging service that seamlessly connects users to vetted and distributed on demand experts when they are looking for advice • Developed concept, product strategy and built business model and go-to-market strategy • Worked extensively in generating and curating unique, localised content and building community of registered users • Secured local and International VC funding, major content partnership with UK National Health Service (NHS) as well as 2 further notable local content deals. • The website launched in Sep 2013 with strong growth in unique visitors and registered users, and has been covered extensively in local mainstream media . Built sustainability model and revenue verticals for Maya • Spoke at multiple local events (incl. TEDxDhaka) -http://tedxdhaka.com/speakers/ • Runners up in BRAC 40 Year Innovation competition - http://tinyurl.com/bp6yfyj • Selected by the Daily Star as one of 40 young leaders of Bangladesh - http://tinyurl.com/csovlrv

  • Founder and CEO

    2015 - 2022

    Founded a technology start-up, Maya with the focus on wellbeing. Its flagship product, Maya Apa is an anonymous wellbeing messaging service that seamlessly connects users to vetted and distributed on demand experts when they are looking for advice • Developed concept, product strategy and built business model and go-to-market strategy • Worked extensively in generating and curating unique, localised content and building community of registered users • Secured local and International VC funding, major content partnership with UK National Health Service (NHS) as well as 2 further notable local content deals. • The website launched in Sep 2013 with strong growth in unique visitors and registered users, and has been covered extensively in local mainstream media . Built sustainability model and revenue verticals for Maya • Spoke at multiple local events (incl. TEDxDhaka) -http://tedxdhaka.com/speakers/ • Runners up in BRAC 40 Year Innovation competition - http://tinyurl.com/bp6yfyj • Selected by the Daily Star as one of 40 young leaders of Bangladesh - http://tinyurl.com/csovlrv

  • Investment Counselor

    2013 - 2014

    - Was at the heart of our Private Client Group, build trusting relationships with our clients and educate them on our top-down portfolio strategy, their investments, and important market events - Proactively connect with clients on a quarterly basis to review their asset allocation and ensure we're on the right track towards their long term financial goals - Rely on our sales team to gradually build your roster of high-net-worth clients within the first year - Worked with Sales team to serv uce clients to keep their targets on track

  • Associate, Investment Structuring

    2007 - 2010

    • Primarily responsible for researching & assisting to select hedge fund managers to suit BW portfolio worth 15 Billion GBP. • Initiate and complete all necessary due diligence and evaluations necessary to invest in each of these managers. • Ultimately responsible for choosing funds to replace invested managers not meeting expected returns and presenting evaluations to investment committee for choosing that fund • During BW multi-manager re-launch worked extensively with product owners of the team to build brand identity of BW platform as well as the portfolios. Produced high quality investment brochures, sales aid for both internal & external clients within challenging deadlines. Manage entire production process, liaising with Brand team, Fund Managers, Compliance, Legal, Marketing and external printing agencies

  • Fund of Fund - Emerging Markets

    2004 - 2007

    - Responsible for structuring and mapping emerging market universe to check which funds GAM has covered and maintaining a database of potential funds worthy of further research for GAM investments worth 22 Billion GBP. - Participate in overall due diligence process up until recommendation of GAM investments in alternative asset classes, typical investment value 10 Million GBP - Gathering and evaluating hedge fund information directly from hedge fund managers and industry sources and doing full range of quantitative and qualitative evaluation and present to our investment managers - Prepared hedge fund manager research note for investment managers and was the main point of contact for emerging market equity long/short strategy and provided up-to-date analysis to portfolio managers, and external clients - Attending hedge fund manager meetings/hedge fund seminars to spot new managers suitable to GAM portfolio - Ongoing monitoring performance of hedge fund managers primarily within emerging markets as well as monitor and analyse key market drivers to justify performance - Maintain lists & monitor A-rated managers who outperform peer groups & replace them with existing managers not meeting GAM benchmarks

  • Analyst - HSBC Alternatives Investments

    2003 - 2004

    - Manage investor queries & relationships for all HSBC Alternative hedge fund products. Total asset under management across 4 strategies is $300 M covering institutionals & HNW. - Prepare and distribute monthly and weekly NAV reports, maintain RFPs, determine fund correlation with general market Indices and perform peer group analysis for general overview of fund performance. - Initiate, organize & attend potential investor meetings and assist investors in their due diligence process prior to actual investments in the HSBC funds. Update marketing literature, on external databases & Indices. - Revise monthly sales pitch book, presentation materials, fund manager report & factsheet and assist senior marketing team in raising assets for HSBC single strategy in-house hedge funds.

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