許多人對未來的財務規劃都充滿疑問。今期我們非常榮幸能邀請到 Saki Partners 的高級財務顧問兼董事，
Animoca Brands 和 Mach7 Technologies 的非執行董事Nigel Finch 為我們解答有關財務規劃的疑難。
(1）處於早期和成熟階段的公司，在財務管理時往往會忽略了什麼？
對於早期階段的公司來說，許多創始人都會忽略製定一個全面的策略計劃和財務計劃的重要性。企業需要確保策略計劃中固有的假設與其財務計劃互相吻合，否則財務預算很快就會跟不上業務發展的腳步。
(2）亞洲企業或創新公司最常遇到的財務狀況或挑戰是什麼？您能否就如何避免這些狀況或挑戰提出一些建議？
收入通常比預期需時長，活動亦要花大量的時間和精力，成本和支出往往會超出預算，導致資金比預期更早耗盡。這對企業來說是一項重大的挑戰，若未能在預期時間內賺取到一定的資金，就會令投資者欠缺信心注資企業。我對企業的建議就是應該按每個里程碑的成就，再籌集適量的資本，而不是試圖一次性籌集巨額資金。如企業能夠在每次集資時增加金額，也可以達到「稀釋作用」，股東每股可分到的盈餘會攤薄。例如，在原型產品發布後籌集資金，或者在賺取里程碑中第一筆收入時籌集資金，以進一步擴張或整合資源。這些例子都是需要有效的短期財務計劃，使團隊的每位成員能夠更有效地準備和專注於下次融資。
(3) 您對現時市場的手機遊戲設計公司有什麼看法，尤其是初創公司？您認為有什麼因素令到某些企業能夠在飽和的行業中生存或改變市場？
製作單一遊戲的企業是非常高風險的，因為企業的成功取決於遊戲組合的設計以及開發風險。這對小型遊戲工作室來說是一項巨大挑戰，因為它們沒有足夠的遊戲款式。
現時市場上的遊戲都是以AI、區塊鏈和加密貨幣的技術作為設計或遊戲特徵。這些創新的技術可以令遊戲更獨特，吸引更多玩家的支持。同樣，與其他知名的知識產權（例如：品牌）的許可或品牌彼此合作可能有助吸引更多受眾，增加商業配對成功的機會。
(4) 你在過往都獲取過不少殊榮，在市場上亦已有一番成就，是什麼促使你在不同類型的行業發展？
這算是有助我個人職業上的發展，多於在不同類型的行業發展。由於我曾經在商業和金融領域內學習和工作，在這個行業已有一定的專業知識和實踐技能，這驅使我在兩所知名的商學院都獲得驗證。我在國際新興市場和經濟發展方面也有非常豐富的經驗，並協助經濟體吸引外國的投資者和提供專業知識。這些經歷的認可也令我有機會被任命為蒙古名譽總領事(Honorary Consul-General of Mongolia)。
(5) 你工作的座右銘是什麼？在未來有什麼計劃？
我工作的座右銘是「做你自己喜歡的事」。孔子曾經說過「選擇你愛的工作，這樣你就一輩子不用工作了」。我認為經濟上的回報在於努力、決心和堅持，加上我對自己和團隊的重視。我熱衷於幫助企業成長和為股東和客戶創造財富。我很喜歡我在做的事情，所以感覺不像是在工作。我的5年計劃是繼續我在做的事情。與新技術、新企業家、新商業模式合作，了解他們的需要並在對的市場中加速他們的發展，為他們的所有者創造財富。
Text: Nancy Lim, Janny Ho
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For many of us, when it comes to planning our business’ financial future, the right answers seldom come easy. Fortunately there are professionals like Dr. Nigel Finch, a senior financial advisor and a director at Saki Partners non-executive director of Animoca Brands and Mach7 Technologies, who can answer our burning questions help make sense of the confusion.
(1) What do early-stage and mature stage firms tend to miss out when they manage their finances?
The biggest issue is for early stage firms is that a lot of founders overlook the importance of developing an integrated strategic plan and financial plan. Companies need to insure the assumptions inherent in their strategic plans dovetail into their financial plans otherwise the financial budget quickly becomes out of sync with the business evolution.
(2) What were common financial circumstances or challenges companies in Asian market or startups often find themselves in? And could you give some advices on how they can avoid these unforeseen financial circumstances or challenges?
Revenues often take longer than they anticipated, and activities take more time and effort resulting in expenditure higher than originally budgeted. This results in money running out earlier than expected. This presents a challenge as the business in attempting to raise capital a time in its lifecycle where is may not have achieved sufficient milestones to give investors the confidence they need to commit to a funding round.
(3) What are your thoughts on the up and coming mobile games companies, specifically startups? What are the factors you think make certain companies survive in this saturated industry or really disrupt the market ?
Single game production is a high-risk activity for business to undertake as success usually depends on a portfolio of games and how development risk can be spread across a diversified portfolio of titles. This scale poses a huge challenge for smaller game studios as they don’t have sufficient numbers of games in the portfolio.
Some of the trends in the current market are building in technologies like AI, blockchain and cryptocurrency as features of the design or game-play. These sort of tech innovations may give games a greater half-life as well as more support from audiences. Similarly licensing or co-branding with other better known intellectual properties such as brands may contribute to de-risking the game by helping it find a larger audience and the chance for greater commercial success.
(4) You’ve worn many hats over the years and have attained many achievements. May I know what motivates your career changes or drive to dive into many different industries?
It’s more than a career progression rather than a deliberate career change across different industries. I’ve studied and worked in business and finance extensively developing a lot of knowledge and practical expertise which led to this being validated by appointments in two leading business school. I have also had substantial experience in international business and economic development in emerging market and assisting these economies attract foreign investment and know-how. Recognition of this experience led to my appointment as Honorary Consul-General of Mongolia.
(5) What is your work motto? What do you have in works in near future?
My work motto is “do what you love “ Confucius once said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I think the financial rewards come through hard work, determination and persistence and those are what I value in myself and my team. I am passionate about helping business grow and in creating wealth for shareholders and clients. I genuinely like what I do so it doesn’t feel like working. My 5-year plan is to continue what I am already doing. Working with new technologies, new entrepreneurs and new business models, assimilating them and accelerating them in the right markets that will create wealth for their owners.