Darksquare

Wealth inequality is a topic that's been focussed on heavily in recent elections in the UK and Europe, as well as the upcoming US Presidential election It's usually measured within a country to compare the relative financial health across the population But since Darksquare is a UK based investment platform, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at wealth inequality in the UK vs the US. We took a look at how much you'd need to earn to fit into each income decile in the UK and the US, the differences are staggering 3 key findings: 💵 1. Americans earn significantly more than Brits - When compared decile to decile, Americans earned on average 87% more than those in the UK. - Even at the most equal point (30th percentile) US residents earn over 60% more than inhabitants of the UK. - Granted, the UK has better public infrastructure in place (public healthcare, unemployment benefits, social housing etc.) so in reality the difference in quality of life is likely lessened, but it's still a significant salary difference. 📈 2. Income inequality is actually greater at the higher end of the scale - Salaries in the UK are more equal compared to the US, but there seems to be a limit on earnings as you progress towards the top, with the top 30% of US workers earning at least double the salaries of their UK counterparts. - The range between the 10% and 90% deciles in the UK is £55k, in the US it's much larger at £145k. UK residents are on average poorer, but more equal. ⛵ 3. Over 40% of Americans earn more than the top 10% of the UK - In the UK, 10% of the population earns over £70k annually. In the US, 40% of people earn £73k or above. - When looking at gross numbers, 10% of the UK workforce, is approx 3.3m people, whereas 40% of the US is around 67m people (almost the exact population of the UK, interestingly enough) - This means that the US market for what we would consider affluent in the UK, is over 20 times larger. What does this mean for wealth managers and consumer finance companies in the UK? Keir Starmer has emphasised how important economic growth will be in the upcoming budget, but is it possible to ever close the gap to the US? Data sources: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Payscale, Statista. Currency conversions done using XE mid-market rates.

We've had some interesting investment opportunities listed on the Darksquare platform this year. We're proud to have partnered with several UK fintech startups to bring these investment opportunities to a wider audience. These partnerships include Plend | B Corp focussed on consumer credit, Factored who take a unique approach to landlord financing, and most recently WineFi 🍷, who allow individuals to invest in diversified portfolios of investment grade wine. Let's take a look at these deals in more detail, alongside a preview of what's in the pipeline:

Our latest investment opportunity, a diversified portfolio of 'Investment Grade' wine from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Tuscany and Napa Valley is now live on the Darksquare platform. Join our kickoff webinar this Thursday September 5th at 6pm where we'll joined by Callum Woodcock, WineFi 🍷's CEO and Founder as well as Peter Lunzer, one of the UK's leading wine investors with over 30 years of experience and a member of WineFi 🍷's investment committee. Capital at risk. Registration link below:

Private credit has evolved significantly, becoming a dynamic asset class that provides a range of opportunities for (mostly institutional) investors. Even within the asset class itself, various investment options exist to cater to the needs of different investors. Darksquare is opening these types of investment up to a much wider audience, let's take a look below: If you'd like access to private credit investment opportunities, request a platform invite here: https://lnkd.in/eR9FNeeU #privatecredit #alternativeassets #investing

We’re very pleased to have closed our latest investment opportunity, partnering with Factored this week. This marks Darksquare’s second live private credit deal while still in beta, following an earlier partnership with Plend | B Corp. Factored will use these funds to provide more factoring lines to their landlord customers. Essentially, Factored 'purchases' up to six months of rent in advance from landlords, who in turn pay a small monthly fee for this service. Historically, such factoring lines have been accessible only to institutional investors, but Darksquare is now opening the door for individual investors to participate. We’re committed to providing our customers with private market investment opportunities with strong security packages, decent yields, and low/no correlation to public markets. This partnership with Factored hits all of the above criteria *What is Factoring* Factoring is a financial transaction that enables landlords to sell their future rental income in return for upfront cash. As a result, they can meet their immediate cash requirements and conveniently manage their payments through monthly instalments. With increased available funds, landlords have the opportunity to invest in various ways to improve living conditions and reduce their carbon footprint. This includes initiatives such as retrofitting, undertaking refurbishments, covering service charges, maintenance and repairs and fulfilling tax obligations. Congratulations and thanks again to Ben Schuldenfrei and David Rabee Read more below on the UK Business Angels Association site, or contact me directly for more details

Investing in alternative, private market assets provides a range of distinct benefits for investors. At Darksquare, we're really interested in what our community values the most Discover the Advantages of Alternative Investments In the ever-changing financial landscape, diversification is crucial. Investing in alternative, private market assets presents a unique opportunity to strengthen your portfolio. Here are a few reasons why investors are embracing these assets: 🍎 🍌 🍊 Diversification: Private market assets, such as private credit, venture capital, and real estate, provide exposure to diverse sectors and reduce reliance on public markets. 📈 💷 💹 Higher Returns: Historically, alternative investments have outperformed traditional assets, offering the potential for substantial long-term gains. (Source in comments) 🚢 🔒 ⚖ Stability: Private market assets can provide a buffer against market volatility, offering a more stable investment option during economic fluctuations. 🏝 🏗 🌲 Access to More Interesting Dealflow: Private markets offer unique and exclusive investment opportunities not typically available in public markets.

At Darksquare we aim to offer our customers a wide range of asset classes into which they can invest, in order to maximise diversification across their portfolios Trade financing is a popular asset class amongst institutional investors, but until now has been very difficult to access as an individual or smaller asset manager Investing in trade financing facilities offers a unique avenue for diversification and growth. By providing short-term funding to bridge the gap between suppliers and buyers, you can enjoy several key benefits: ✅ Stable Cashflows: Benefit from predictable and attractive returns, often uncorrelated to public markets. ✅ Global Impact: Support international trade, fostering economic growth and strengthening global supply chains. ✅ Reduced Risk: Engage in secured transactions with collateral packages and insurance options that minimise risk. ✅ Liquidity: Enjoy higher liquidity compared to traditional long-term investments. (lockup periods on Darksquare will be approximately 2 years) Investing in trade financing can offer a unique combination of attractive returns and enhanced security. 🌍🚀 #TradeFinance #InvestmentOpportunities #AlternativeInvestments #FinancialGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #Fintech

At Darksquare, we're focused on strong risk-adjusted returns, listing investment opportunities with solid security packages and/or seniority in the capital structure We don't tell our customers they can 5x their money in 3 years by investing through us, we'd much rather make 12% per annum whilst taking less risk One way to measure risk adjusted performance is by using the 'Sharpe ratio' as explained below: 📊 Understanding Risk-Adjusted Returns and the Sharpe Ratio 📈 In the world of investing, it's not just about the returns - it's about the risk taken to achieve those returns. This is where risk-adjusted returns come into play, offering a clearer picture of an investment's performance relative to its risk. One key metric to measure this is the Sharpe Ratio. Developed by Nobel laureate William F. Sharpe, this ratio helps investors understand how much excess return they are receiving for the extra volatility they endure. 🔍 Why the Sharpe Ratio Matters: Risk vs. Reward: It quantifies return per unit of risk, helping to identify investments that provide the best risk-adjusted performance. Comparison Tool: Investors can use it to compare different portfolios or funds, ensuring they're choosing the option with the optimal risk/return profile. Investment Decisions: A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates a more attractive risk-adjusted return, guiding better investment decisions. 🔑 Formula: Sharpe Ratio = (Portfolio Return - Risk free rate) / Std Dev of the portfolio Basically, it's how much excess return was generated for the amount of risk taken In essence, the Sharpe Ratio transforms the abstract concept of "risk" into a tangible metric, empowering investors to make more informed choices. 📚💡 #Investing #Finance #RiskManagement #SharpeRatio #FinancialPlanning

🇨🇭 Incubation Batch 12 of Tenity Switzerland is here! 🚀 🥇 First, some stats & insights about this new batch of talent: 💸 9 startups selected for investment 🎯 More than 400 applications globally 🌍 Startups from 6 countries 💬 Focus areas: Wealth Management, ESG, Cyber Security and Investment Management. The Zurich Hub is thrilled to host this extraordinary group of founders over the next four months, supporting their growth and becoming a part of their entrepreneurial journey 💪 ↗ Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gE_ayE57 And, now it´s time! 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁 Welcome to Tenity!! 👋 Arca | Spain  CyberTide | Germany  Darksquare | United Kingdom  Kapnative | Germany  Lendit | Italy  MITI | Estonia  Newbridge SA | Switzerland  rezonanz | Switzerland  Zurichberg | Switzerland Want to be part of the next cohort, get investment, and access our global network? We are already accepting applications: www.tenity.com/programs Andreas Iten Marc Oliver Hauser Brigitta Gyoerfi, CFA Timothy Lachenmeier Wiktoria (Victoria) Przybylska Luca Casuscelli Maximilian Derpa Kaan Akın