
Binary Capital was a venture capital firm that was active from 2014 to 2016. It was founded by David Lee and Chamath Palihapitiya.
The firm's history is marked by controversy, with a series of high-profile departures and allegations of misconduct.
Binary Capital invested in several notable startups, including Zenefits, which was a human resources and benefits platform.
Investments
Binary Capital has been actively investing in various companies since 2016. They have participated in rounds such as Series A and Seed VC, investing a total of $13.29M in companies like Atrium and Clause.
One notable investment was made in Atrium, a company that received $10.5M in Series A funding on June 15, 2017. This investment was co-led by 500 Global and a list of notable investors.
Here are some of the notable investments made by Binary Capital:
Investments Activity
Binary Capital Investments Activity is quite impressive. They've made several investments in various companies.
Atrium received a Series A investment of $10.5 million on June 15, 2017, with 500 Global and many other notable co-investors.

Clause secured a Seed VC - II investment of $0.79 million on May 3, 2017, with no co-investors listed.
Clearmob raised $2 million in Seed VC funding on April 4, 2017, but we don't have a list of co-investors.
There's also a mention of a Seed VC investment in an unnamed company on April 1, 2017, but the amount is undisclosed and so are the co-investors.
Here are some specific details about the investments:
9 Portfolio Exits
Binary Capital has made some impressive portfolio exits, with a total of 9 exits to date. Their latest exit was Dia & Co on April 3, 2024.
One of their notable exits was Dia & Co, which was acquired by Fullbeauty Brands for $XXM on April 3, 2024.
The company's portfolio exits have been quite active in recent years, with exits happening as recently as 2024.
If you're looking for more information on Binary Capital's portfolio exits, you can check out their complete list of exits.

Here are the details of their 9 portfolio exits:
Financials
Investing in the stock market can be a great way to grow your wealth over time. The average annual return on the S&P 500 is around 10%.
You can start investing with as little as $100, making it accessible to almost anyone. The minimum investment required for a Roth IRA is $6,000.
It's essential to have a long-term perspective when investing, as the market can be volatile in the short term. The stock market has experienced downturns in the past, but it has always recovered.
Diversifying your portfolio is key to minimizing risk. By spreading your investments across different asset classes, you can reduce your exposure to any one particular market or sector.
Rebalancing your portfolio regularly can help you stay on track with your investment goals. This involves selling some of your investments and using the proceeds to buy others that are undervalued.
Investing in a tax-advantaged account can help you save money on taxes. Contributions to a traditional IRA are tax-deductible, which can result in significant tax savings over time.
Mission Over Metrics

It's easy to get caught up in the numbers, but let's not forget what's truly important: the mission. A successful investment is one that aligns with your values and goals.
According to a study, 75% of investors prioritize mission alignment over financial returns. This means that investors are willing to take a slightly lower return if it means supporting a cause they care about.
Your investment should be a tool to help you achieve your goals, not the sole focus of your efforts. By keeping your mission top of mind, you'll be more likely to make decisions that truly benefit you.
In fact, research has shown that investors who prioritize mission alignment tend to outperform those who focus solely on financial returns. This is because a clear mission helps guide decision-making and leads to more intentional investing.
Cloud and Valuation
Binary Capital Limited has an estimated valuation range of £0 to £358k, based on financial data from September 2024 and industry multiples.

The company's valuation is below the industry average, which is a notable consideration for investors and stakeholders.
With only 4 employees, Binary Capital Limited is significantly smaller than the industry average of 7 employees, suggesting a more intimate and agile work environment.
This smaller team size may also impact the company's financial performance, with a reported revenue of £13.8k.
cloud
Cloud computing is a model of delivering computing services over the internet, where resources such as servers, storage, databases, software, and applications are provided as a service to users on-demand.
This model allows businesses to scale up or down quickly, without having to invest in and manage their own infrastructure. Cloud computing is often referred to as "on-demand" computing because it allows users to access resources as needed, without having to wait for hardware or software to be provisioned.
The cloud provides a flexible and cost-effective way for businesses to deploy and manage applications, with the ability to easily add or remove resources as needed. This can help reduce costs and improve efficiency.
According to a study, the cloud computing market is expected to grow to $445 billion by 2025, driven by increasing demand for cloud-based services and infrastructure.
Estimated Valuation

Estimated Valuation is a crucial aspect of business assessment, and it's fascinating to see how it's calculated. For Binary Capital Limited, the estimated valuation range is between £0 to £358k, based on financial data as of September 2024 and industry multiples.
Having a small team of 4 employees is below the industry average of 7, which might impact the valuation. The company's financials, such as the £13.8k figure, also play a significant role in determining the estimated valuation.
To get a more accurate valuation, you can use a Business Valuation Calculator, which allows you to edit financials and industries for an instant, professional valuation.
Fund History
Binary Capital has a history of managing funds, with a total of 4 funds under its umbrella.
One of these funds, Binary Capital Fund II, was closed on August 1, 2016, with a total amount of $175M.
The status of the other funds, Binary Capital Fund, Binary Capital Affiliates Fund I, and Binary Capital Special Opportunities Fund, is currently unknown.
Here is a breakdown of the funds managed by Binary Capital:
Health Check

Binary Capital Limited's financial health check reveals a mixed picture. The company has a higher cost of product, with a gross margin of 6.9%, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 76.3%.
Its operating margin is a staggering -797.6%, making it less profitable than the average company. On the other hand, it gets paid by customers after just 12 days, which is much earlier than the industry average of 268 days.
The company's suppliers are paid after a mere 6 days, which is quicker than the average of 30 days. This suggests that Binary Capital Limited has a good relationship with its suppliers, which can lead to cost savings and improved cash flow.
The company has a substantial amount of cash to cover its current liabilities, with a coverage period of 321 weeks. This is significantly more than the industry average of 16 weeks, giving the company a safety net in case of any unexpected expenses or cash shortfalls.
Binary Capital Limited's debt level is also lower than the industry average, with a ratio of liabilities to total assets of 15%. This is a positive sign, as it indicates that the company is not over-leveraged and has a more stable financial position.
Fund History

Binary Capital has a history of managing funds, with a total of four funds in their portfolio. One of these funds, Binary Capital Fund II, closed on August 1, 2016, with a fund size of $175 million.
The fund type for Binary Capital Fund II is early-stage venture capital. This type of fund focuses on investing in startups at an early stage of development.
The status of Binary Capital Fund II is closed, indicating that the fund is no longer accepting new investments. The sources of information for this fund are listed as 8.
Here's a breakdown of Binary Capital's four funds:
The fund sizes for Binary Capital Fund and Binary Capital Special Opportunities Fund are not publicly disclosed.
Blowup and Implications
The blowup of Binary Capital was a shocking event that sent ripples through the venture capital industry. Binary Capital was a prominent venture capital firm founded by Justin Caldbeck and David Lee.

The firm's demise was largely due to allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Caldbeck. This led to a public backlash and the eventual shutdown of the firm.
Several high-profile investors, including Shervin Pishevar and Chamath Palihapitiya, were also implicated in the scandal. They were accused of knowing about the allegations against Caldbeck and failing to take action.
The incident highlighted the need for greater accountability and transparency in the venture capital industry. It also sparked a wider conversation about the culture of sexism and harassment in Silicon Valley.
The fallout from the scandal was significant, with several startups that had received funding from Binary Capital distancing themselves from the firm.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_Capital
- https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/27/the-latest-in-the-binary-capital-blowup-and-what-it-means-for-startup-investing/
- https://www.cbinsights.com/investor/binary-financial
- https://pomanda.com/company/06692644/binary-capital-investment-management-ltd
- https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/new-venture-fund-binary-capital-focuses-on-mission-not-just-metrics/
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