Private companies

Alexander Nicolier

Investment manager

Connect on LinkedIn

Nicolier Alexander standing while leaning against a table.
It’s impossible to fully comprehend how all the exponential trends we’re experiencing are interlinked or deduce what will emerge. There are too many second- and third-order effects involved. But as investors, we can try. 
I believe the conditions are in place to create the next trillion-dollar companies. And we’re here to find them at the earliest stage possible.

Great companies can come from anywhere

The most valuable ideas and enriching experiences happen when we uproot ourselves and lean into uncertainty with a growth mindset. This is what I discovered from having lived in three continents and being an investor in six different strategies within Baillie Gifford. Experiencing constant change has made me not only radically open-minded about the future but also a fan of imperfection and a relentless optimist.

Extraordinary companies can arise in unexpected places. So I cast my net wide and am ready to explore unconventional ideas to find and invest in businesses with transformative potential.

Aligned with the (playful) underdogs

I greatly admire Elon Musk and Richard Branson in the way they have both created multiple businesses through first-principles thinking. Each venture they launch focuses on being unique and delighting customers by putting them at the centre of everything. There’s also a clear underdog spirit to them, a twinkle in the eye and a playfulness that keeps them going decades on. As Branson sees it: “Fun is one of the most important - and underrated - ingredients in any successful venture. If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.”

Three legs to getting to ‘yes’

I look for three qualities in founders: trustworthiness, skin in the game and humility. We’re privileged to meet some of the smartest and best-connected people on the planet. But we only invest our clients’ capital if we trust those leaders will retain their integrity and guard against complacency.

We back companies for the long term. And this is much easier a rollercoaster to stomach if founders are aligned with significant skin in the game. As the late Charlie Munger said: “Show me the incentive, and I will show you the outcome.”

Of course, the cone of uncertainty couldn’t be wider for these young companies. We’re dealing with exponential changes, complex adaptive systems and S-curves piled on top of one another. Despite the enormous pressure founders are in to seemingly have all the answers, I have a lot of respect for those who answer, “I don’t know”. If they are on the path to creating something exceptional, chances are nobody else does either.

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

Favourite book

Gary Klein: Seeing What Others Don’t

Get in touch

Send a message to Alexander, or email the Private Companies Team directly.

Important information

Please remember that all investment strategies have the potential for profit and loss and your or your clients’ capital may be at risk.
 
The information on this Website is issued by Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 (the “Company”) which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”) under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities) regulated activity with CE Number BGB803. It allows the Company to market and distribute the Baillie Gifford’s range of collective investment schemes to Professional Investors (as defined by the SFO) in Hong Kong.
 
The information contained in this website has been compiled with considerable care to ensure its accuracy at the date of publication. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Nothing in this information or elsewhere in this website shall exclude, limit or restrict our duties and liabilities to you under the SFO or any conduct of business rules which we are bound to comply with. The information on this website has not been reviewed by the SFC. These Terms and any non-contractual obligations arising from or connected with them shall be governed by, and these Terms shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of Hong Kong.
 
This website is informative only and the information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. You can read details of our Legal and Important Information here. Please remember that all investment strategies have the potential for profit and loss and your or your clients’ capital may be at risk.
 
This website does not collect personal information. "Cookies" may be stored on your computer for easy navigation. A "cookie" does not allow us to identify you, but stores information about navigation through our website (such as pages already visited, time and date of visit) which we can remember during the user's next visit to our website in order to improve your browsing experience. If you have any enquiries in relation to our data protection policies and procedures, this Website or the information on it, please click here to contact Baillie Gifford.
 
Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 is incorporated in Hong Kong.  The Company’s principal place of business is Suites 2713-2715 Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong . Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited, which is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford & Co. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited and Baillie Gifford & Co are authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.