八维资本：跨境转账新模式——投资SendFriend的八个理由

Author：Kadeem Clarke

Translator：Ran & Kiki

八维研究院原创，转载请注明出处

前言：

八维资本宣布投资跨境汇款平台SendFriend。据悉，SendFriend由世界银行前雇员David Lighton创立，利用区块链等技术提供跨境汇款服务，主攻菲律宾市场。Ripple此前向SendFriend提供$100万的支持，帮助其借助xRapid技术，实现更高效和低成本的跨境汇款服务。除八维资本外，2020 Ventures（Chain、Circle和Ripple的投资人）和Lytical Ventures也参与了此轮投资。本文介绍了SendFriend的八大优势，以飨读者：

1. Team

1. 团队

SendFriend has a strong team for many reasons. The CEO, David Lighton, has a strong background in the remittance space based on his financial inclusion work for the World Bank in Haiti and blockchain experience from MIT Media Lab paired with an understanding of the complex legal environment associated with the space. Joel Kosloski, the CTO, has 13 years of experience within the remittance space at multiple companies. Most recently, Joel served as Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture & Chief Enterprise Architect at MoneyGram (the second largest company in the payment remittances space).CRO David Anderson is leading the go-to-market efforts, having originally met David L. in class at Harvard Business School. Overall, the entire team has experience from a technology perspective in the remittance space as well as the industry in general.

SendFriend拥有一支强大的团队。 首席执行官 David Lighton 在清结算领域拥有强大的背景，他在海地的世界银行做过普惠金融相关业务，也在 MIT媒体实验室研究过区块链技术，十分了解不同地域的复杂法律环境。 首席技术官Joel Kosloski有13年，在数家不同公司的清结算／汇款行业工作经验。Joel最近的一段工作经历是担任 MoneyGram（ 支付汇款行业中的第二大公司 ）的企业架构高级总监和首席企业架构师。CRO David Anderson则负责市场营销策略，他在和创始人David L.同是哈佛商学院的校友。总体而言，整个团队在汇款／清结算技术的具备丰富的工作经验和行业资源。

2. Why Blockchain?

2.为什么使用区块链技术？

SendFriend leverages blockchain technology to reduce the cost of global remittances for the millions of migrant workers who overpay for international money transfer as a result of friction in the banking system. Current incumbents, such as Western Union, Xoom, MoneyGram, and Remitly, all use a combination of SWIFT, correspondent banks and foreign exchange houses for international FX transfers. Instead, SendFriend uses blockchain. SendFriend sends money quicker and cheaper than its competitors. SendFriend has recently partnered with Ripple for the US-Philippines corridor, along with a partnership with Coins.ph for distribution. Blockchain offers superior speed and transparency for the processing of international payments and SendFriend will be the first US company to bring this benefit to consumers in a compliant fashion.

SendFriend利用区块链技术降低全球汇款的成本。由于国家不同银行系统间的“摩擦”，导致数百万移民在国际货币转移支付了过高的费用。 目前行业中的老牌企业，如西联汇款，Xoom，MoneyGram， Remitly，都在使用SWIFT，银行和外汇局来进行国际外汇转账。 而SendFriend选择使用区块链，一种更快捷和便宜的新途径。SendFriend 最近和Ripple合作开发了美国－菲律宾走廊（US-Philippines corridor），与Coins.ph合作进行销售。

区块链解决方案为国际间的支付提供了更快的速度，更高的透明度。SendFriend将成为美国第一家合规的，使用区块链技术造福国际汇款领域的公司。

3. Timing

3.时机

Oftentimes, businesses in the blockchain space struggle with timing. If current technology is not fully developed to support their application, then the business won’t be successful. However, the timing for SendFriend is right, all of the infrastructure to conduct remittances using blockchain is already developed.

通常，择时对于区块链领域的公司来说是个难题。如果当前技术水平还不足以支撑应用场景的要求，那么这个生意就不会成功。 然而， 现在对于 SendFriend 正是一个绝佳时机， 用于汇款和跨境清结算的区块链技术已经足够发达。

4. Other Investors

4. 其他投资机构

SendFriend will benefit from the network effects produced by their two most notable supporters, the Barclays Accelerator powered by Techstars and Ripple. SendFriend was among 10 startups selected from over 750 applicants for the Barclays Accelerator powered by Techstars program, during which SendFriend was able to secure funding. Not only is SendFriend the only US-Philippines launch partner for Ripple’s xRapid, but Ripple is supporting SendFriend’s go-to-market efforts in the form of a $1 million incentive. 8 Decimal intends to provide SendFriend with advice, potential partnerships, and access to a wide network in the US and Asia as SendFriend’s business expands. Additionally, we will provide consultation and support for marketing and community outreach. Other notable investors include 2020 Ventures (an investor in Chain, Circle, and Ripple), Lytical Ventures, and angel investors.

SendFriend 将受益于它的两个最知名的支持者的网络效应——由Techstars和Ripple支持的巴克莱加速器（ Barclays Accelerator ）。 SendFriend是从申请 巴克莱加速器的750家初创企业中 脱颖而出的10个项目之一，因此，SendFriend获得了稳定的投资。不仅因为SendFriend是Ripple的xRapid项目中“美国－菲律宾”的初始合作伙伴，而且Ripple为SendFriend进入市场提供了1 百万美金的支持。八维资本计划向 SendFriend 提供咨询， 潜在的合作，同时为其在美国和亚洲的业务扩展对接资源。 此外，我们还将为其市场营销提供咨询和社区服务。 其他投资了SendFriend的知名机构包括2020 Ventures（Chain，Circle， 和Ripple的投资人），Lytical Ventures和一些天使投资者。

5. Valuation

5.估值

We can’t go into too much detail about this, but the price is right.

估值细节不能透露过多，但是个合理的价格。

6. Unicorn Potential

6. 潜在的独角兽

In order to become a unicorn, a company must have a sustainable business model, that generates multiple streams of cash flow, operating in a large market. We firmly believe that SendFriend demonstrates these characteristics. They have a good combination of an experienced team, large $650 billion remittance market, and investors that provide more than just capital. SendFriend’s growth strategy is focused on revenue from transactions, APIs, and white-label solutions.

为了成为独角兽，公司必须拥有可持续的商业模式并产生稳定的现金流，还要在一个足够大的市场里运营。我们坚信SendFriend具备如上条件。他们有经验丰富的团队，正在一个大至$6500亿的汇款市场里深耕，而且拥有不止提供资本的强大投资者背书。 SendFriend 的发展战略重点在交易中的利润，API接口和贴牌销售。

7. Marketing Strategy

7. 市场策略

Their integrated marketing approach will reach consumers already sending money online, and consumers who currently send cash only, offline. This will be done by accessing tight-knit Filipino communities through grassroots campaigns, events, co-branding, and partnerships.

他们的整合营销方法将覆盖已经习惯于在线汇款的消费者和目前仅在线下支付现金的消费者。 这将通过在菲律宾市场开展地推，营销活动，捆绑营销和与社区深度合作来完成。

8. Competition

8. 竞品

This is a highly competitive space with longtime incumbents. However, SendFriend has built strong partnerships along its supply chain, while developing a foundation to significantly minimize friction in the system. SendFriend’s size could prove to be an asset as the incumbents will have a hard time following since they risk self-disruption and high switching costs. It is important to note that this is such a large market that there can be multiple winners. For example, 1% of just the US-PHP corridor would represent $400 million being transferred.

跨境汇款在很长一段时间里都将是一个竞争激烈的领域。 然而，SendFriend已经在其供应链中建立了强大的合作伙伴关系，这为减少系统内摩擦奠定了基础。 SendFriend的规模已经足以使其建立护城河，现有的大玩家很难追随，因为他们面临着自我革命和高转换成本的风险。 值得注意的是，SendFriend深耕的领域是一个如此庞大的市场，可能在未来有多个赢家共存。 比如，仅仅美国和菲律宾走廊的1％就已经代表了4亿美元的规模。