It is a great time to be an investor. Particularly a venture investor. I was thinking this past week about my motley team of investments, and how comfortable and excited I am with them. They aren’t a ‘sure thing’. They are risky. At least a couple are likely to cost me money. And it is unknown how much money I’ll make on the ones that do work. So how the heck can I be excited about owning them?

Being a ‘Venture’ investor – One who puts hard earned money into speculative, developmental companies – Requires one thing above all: Optimism. The ability to spot a glass half full. The ability to be audacious enough to believe that it is possible to invest ahead of the crowd, to spot things other people missed, or to hunt hard and deep enough to uncover things in places others fear to tread.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so” Noam Chomsky

I’ve made a few moves recently. I’ve sold 90% of my position in Sprott Inc. (TSX – SII) after a very satisfying 2 year run on the back of Uranium and Gold. Sprott is a company I understand and admire. I’ve exited on the basis that it really doesn’t fit my target of ‘venture’. It was more of an opportunistic way to play the gold / commodities / asset management trade from the bottom of the Covid induced market crash in early 2020. Also, I think future growth is more arithmetic vs exponential; Sprott looks fairly valued to me now (albeit still a great way to get gold / uranium exposure). So I’m mostly out for now, but will keep a close eye on it in the future.

As I blogged about a week ago, I’ve started building a position in Reviva Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ – RVPH). Chart looks ugly (And I like em ugly!) but showing signs of improvement. The cash position is strong, the addressable market for their drug compounds is massive. Management seems competent and legitimate. In investing (as in life) timing is everything – And with Stage 3 trials commencing on their promising drug – I’m hoping the timing is right. RVPH is a noble venture and I’m getting on board to see where it goes. Read more about it here:

Improving Outcomes With Reviva Pharmaceuticals

And how about Skylight Health Group (TSX: SLHG). I was a shareholder last year, before I exited it at a modest loss in search of greener pastures. I still think the company has excellent long term prospects. My mistake on SLHG was timing – Pure and simple overpayment, at too early a stage in the company’s development. When I’m on my game, I am either 1) into an investment before everyone else or 2) ruthless bottom feeder. With SLHG, I tried to jump on a great premise, but at a valuation that was not cheap or sustainable. So now, its had the stuffing beaten out of it, and I think it is trading at a very reasonable valuation to its 2-3 year potential. Am I on the buy? No. I’m going to watch with interest. My capital is more or less tied up. But I’ll consider it at some point if I get some liquidity and the timing is right.

As I stated in my blogpost in early January, I have added Plurilock (TSX: PLUR) to the DTM5 team as a bench player. What defines a ‘bench player’? Well, it is a company I feel confident enough to own, but I keep the % allocation at a lower level. It may not be compelling enough to take the place of a ‘starter’. Plurilock is executing its plan of growth by acquisition while continuing to commercialize its own cyber security software solution, focused on identification management. For more about it, check out my PLUR blogpost from January 4, 2022. I’m still keen on PLUR and plan on giving them some runway to see where they can take this.

Unlocking Plurilock

Speaking of Cyber Security, Nubeva Technologies (TSX – NBVA) remains a ‘starter’ in the DTM5. NBVA is attempting to commercialize its patented Anti-Ransomware technology. It is super early days with this one…..I view it as a high risk / high reward proposition, with some serious potential upside, but also some downside risk from its current trading range should things not pan out as I’d like.

Recently, the mother of all Crypto focused companies, Galaxy Digital Holdings (TSX – GLXY) has been on quite a roller coaster ride. I did take some profits off the table a couple months ago, but then added some more a few weeks ago when it took a big dip. It accounts for 9.9% of the DTM5, so it’s not a massive holding (at this price level) but it is an important one as it represents my only crypto specific investment. I’m still long and strong on this and can see myself adding more to the position under certain circumstances.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. GLXY is not exactly a venture company (6.7 billion dollar Market Cap). Well, without trying to gloat, I’ve held it for a couple years. So when I got in the MC Was significantly lower, and the idea of Crypto for the average person was definitely a ‘venture’ concept. It has served me well (so far) and I intend to keep it as a core holding for as long as it makes sense.

Real Luck Group (TSX: LUCK) is an e-sports gaming platform that I’ve previously blogged about. It is currently in ‘launch mode’, seeing licensing in multiple jurisdictions as well as commencing their marketing strategy / spend on player acquisition. Will it work? Not sure. I’m high conviction on the sector, and I like the management and capital structure of this company. Like PLUR, it is a bench player for me – I don’t have a major position. But it is meaningful.

And then there is Quebec Copper and Gold (TSX – QCCU) – perhaps my highest conviction investment. I don’t think it represents my highest potential return investment, but the macro demand for copper, along with the quality of the assets QCCU owns and the economics of the emerging project are very compelling.

With holdings like these, I’m super optimistic that 2022 is going to be a great year!

GLTA!