The Roles and Countries That Led Yazan Al Homsi to the Investing World
As an experienced managing partner in the realm of venture capital, Yazan Al Homsi has overseen the growth of companies in several countries. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Yazan Al Homsi’s family moved to Canada for some of his school years. Since then, he has held sales and notable financial advisory roles in Canada and the Middle East.
These are the roles that led him to develop his high-profile reputation in the investing world.
The Roles That Led Yazan Al Homsi to the Investing Space
Starting as an intern at General Motors, Yazan Al Homsi soon progressed into sales and entrepreneurship. He then found his calling in the Canadian and Middle-Eastern world of investments.
1. General Motors: Internship
When studying finance at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in the early 2000s, Yazan Al Homsi secured an internship that was open only to the top 5% of his cohort.
He spent his six-month internship with General Motors between 2002 and 2003. During his internship, he had the opportunity to set his academic materials aside and examine how a real large-scale company operates.
2. Imperial Oil: Sales Representative
After completing his degree, Yazan Al Homsi secured his first full-time role as a sales representative for Imperial Oil, which ExxonMobil owns the majority of. He spent 18 months in the Toronto office, picking up sales techniques. This diversified his skill set, adding to the finance expertise he had developed at university.
3. Cafe Noir: Owner
With plans to return to Montreal to spend time with his brother, Yazan Al Homsi then launched a business of his own. He teamed up with a friend to open Cafe Noir and explore his entrepreneurial side.
Over the next 14 months, he learned plenty about managing and training staff. But when PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) offered him an advisory role in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and initial public offerings (IPO), he couldn’t say no.
4. PricewaterhouseCoopers: From Senior Consultant to Director
Accepting the PwC role as a senior consultant, Yazan Al Homsi moved to the Middle East and dedicated the next 12 years of his career to leadership at this company. He soon progressed from his senior consultant role to the assistant manager role, and then the manager role.
From here, he then became the senior manager, a role that saw him oversee financial due diligence and valuation. In this role, he conducted the following:
- Financial Statements Review:
- Analyzing historical financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement) to assess the company’s financial performance and trends.
- Identifying irregularities, discrepancies, or unusual items in the financial statements.
- Quality of Earnings (QoE) Analysis:
- Assessing the sustainability and accuracy of the company’s earnings and cash flows.
- Identifying non-recurring items that might skew financial results.
- Working Capital Analysis:
- Evaluating the adequacy of working capital to support ongoing operations.
- Analyzing the composition of current assets and liabilities.
- Historical Financial Performance:
- Reviewing revenue and expense recognition policies to ensure they comply with accounting standards.
- Identifying any potential accounting or financial reporting issues.
- Asset and Liability Review:
- Assessing the value and condition of the company’s assets and liabilities, including any contingent liabilities.
- Reviewing contracts and agreements that may have financial implications.
- Cash Flow Analysis:
- Analyzing cash flow patterns and trends.
- Identifying any cash flow constraints or unusual cash flow activities.
- Financial Forecasting:
- Developing financial projections to assess the company’s future performance.
- Stress-testing the financial model to evaluate different scenarios.
- Management and Key Personnel Evaluation:
- Assessing the qualifications and experience of the management team.
- Evaluating the company’s succession planning and key employee retention strategies.
- Market and Industry Analysis:
- Evaluating the company’s position within its industry.
- Assessing market trends, competition, and growth prospects.
- Legal and Compliance Due Diligence:
- Reviewing legal documents such as contracts, licenses, permits, and litigation history.
- Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Tax Due Diligence:
- Analyzing the company’s tax positions, liabilities, and any potential tax savings opportunities.
- Reviewing tax compliance and any past or pending tax audits.
- Environmental and Regulatory Compliance:
- Assessing the company’s compliance with environmental regulations and potential environmental liabilities.
- Technology and IT Infrastructure:
- Reviewing the company’s technology infrastructure and assessing IT security and data privacy risks.
- Customer and Supplier Contracts:
- Evaluating key customer and supplier relationships, contracts, and terms.
- Synergy Analysis:
- Identifying potential cost savings or revenue enhancements that may result from the transaction.
- Integration Planning:
- Developing a plan for integrating the target company into the acquiring company’s operations, if applicable.
- Risk Assessment:
- Identifying and quantifying financial and operational risks associated with the transaction.
- Report and Recommendations:
- Summarizing findings and providing recommendations to the acquiring or investing party.
Financial due diligence is a comprehensive process that requires the collaboration of financial experts, legal advisors, and industry specialists to ensure a thorough evaluation of the target company’s financial health and potential risks and rewards. The results of this due diligence process often play a crucial role in decision-making during M&A and investment transactions.
He carried out these duties across real estate, retail, manufacturing, and distribution industries. He also hosted meetings with other top managers, including CEOs, CFOs, presidents, and vice presidents.
On top of this, he managed several financial feasibility study assignments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These assignments involved leading teams of consultants to guide them through the process of building financial models, preparing financial statements, and completing key analyses.
He also held management meetings to discuss client strategies, key areas of strength, and return on investment prospects. And he assessed the viability of new projects in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia against specific metrics and regulations.
5. Founders Round Capital: Managing Partner
During his time at PwC, Yazan Al Homsi had become a chartered financial analyst (CFA). He’d also developed a network of small-cap investment contacts in Canada and further afield. Plus, he’d spent years investing for himself to identify where he could create or generate alpha.
Having realized that small-cap investments often create lots of alpha because they’re under-discovered, he moved to Vancouver to kick-start Founders Round Capital in 2017. He started this company by guiding companies with promising business plans, stories, and management through their transitions from private to public.
6. Catalyst Communications DMCC: Managing Partner
A year later, Yazan Al Homsi also launched Catalyst Communications DMCC. As a managing partner of both enterprises, he takes the lead in helping companies achieve financial success.
To retain his connections in the Middle East, he travels between Dubai and Canada often.
About Yazan Al Homsi
Yazan Al Homsi is an entrepreneur and technology investor from Saudi Arabia. His expertise in financial modeling and financial analysis — not to mention his work coordinating teams — has led him to oversee the financial growth of several companies in the technology and healthcare industries. Today, he is a managing partner in multiple venture capital companies, where he offers crucial financial advice to businesses looking to grow.
Throughout his illustrious career, Yazan Al Homsi has not only been a transformative figure in the realm of small-cap investments but has also emerged as a guiding light for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs worldwide. His journey through various roles and countries has equipped him with a unique perspective on global markets, enabling him to identify and capitalize on opportunities that others might overlook. Al Homsi’s adeptness at navigating the complexities of international finance, coupled with his hands-on approach to investment, underscores his unparalleled expertise in fostering the growth and success of companies across diverse sectors. His ability to blend analytical rigor with strategic vision has been instrumental in driving the financial success of numerous ventures, earning him a revered spot among the top echelons of venture capitalists. By sharing his journey and insights, Yazan Al Homsi not only inspires but also educates the next generation of investors, proving that with the right blend of experience, insight, and diligence, navigating the volatile waters of the investing world can lead to remarkable achievements.