Robert Hilmer
Robert Hilmer is an Investor and Entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of Goanna Capital, his investment firm focused on private companies in the global internet, software, consumer, and financial technology industries.[1]
He was formerly the head of business development of the San Francisco-based Equidate platform founded in 2014 and backed by well-known Silicon Valley investors Scott Banister and Charlie Cheever.[1]
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Personal Life
Hilmer lives in Park City, Utah. He is an enthusiastic competitive-sports follower and is passionate about hiking, skiing, and sauna.
Early Years
Hilmer was raised and educated in Australia. He attended the University of Queensland where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Commerce (Finance). Hilmer also earned a Bachelor’s of Laws (LLB) at the T.C. Beirne School of Law. As a graduate, Hilmer worked for the investment banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland in the United States. It was here that he cut his teeth in financial markets, working on the interest rate derivatives trading desk. With this experience under his belt, Hilmer went on to be headhunted by Goldman Sachs to work in their Investment Management Division in New York.
The Forge Global Years
Seeking a fresh challenge and new horizons, Robert Hilmer joined Forge Global in 2016 as the Global Head of Business Development. The revolutionary private technology trading platform, which has since grown to also include a data subscription business, has transformed private markets around the world. Hilmer’s role included hiring, raising capital around the world, business operations, and negotiating private tech transactions.
The Coatue Years
After vesting his stock in Forge, Hilmer enjoyed a challenging and successful career with Coatue Management – A $40 Billion AUM technology-focused hedge fund. Hilmer was the Head of Private Market Execution, based in New York. Hilmer.
Goanna Capital
Hilmer drew on his success at Coatue to launch Goanna Capital. Goanna’s first fund was raised in 2020 and focused on growth-stage technology investments. Goanna manages a meaningful pool of discretionary capital on behalf of institutional investors and family offices.
Education
Robert attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Queensland in 2010.
Career
He has managed millions of dollars for billionaires around the world and packed plenty into his burgeoning career in the US. He talked his way into trading floor jobs at prestigious New York financial firms such as Royal Bank of Scotland fresh out of the University of Queensland, he has helped build a fast-growing tech investment start-up from a living room floor in San Francisco.
After a stint working at prominent US billionaire Phillippe Laffont’s hedge fund helping invest $US30bn ($40.4bn) around the world, he now runs his own business. His company, Goanna Capital is about to top $500m funds under the management mark about 10 months after he founded it. Goanna Capital invests in technology start-ups at the pre-initial public offering stage, raising $US250m for its second fund after quickly raising $US150m last year for the first fund He said in an interview.
"I realised I was an entrepreneur at heart but If you’d have told me this would have been my life 11 or 12 years ago I would have said you’ve lost your mind"[2]
He currently flits between New York and Utah, a far cry from when he worked at a BWS bottle shop
As for the future, he talks about perhaps returning to Australia one day and pursuing a political career. He advises budding entrepreneurs to think about following his unconventional path. [1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Latest SpaceX valuation shows ‘an unlimited amount of funding’ available in private markets, Equidate says". https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/13/equidate-spacex-27-billion-valuation-shows-unlimited-private-funding-available.html.
- ↑ "FROM BWS TO THE BIG TIME ON WALL STREET". https://www.pressreader.com/australia/the-weekend-post/20210904/281964610826398.
