The reason B2B2C models are so interesting: when we look at fintech investments, the questions of “how do you get distribution” and “how do you make sure somebody else doesn’t outbid you” are paramount. If you can nail a B2B2C model, you lock down both:
a16z.com/2018/05/17/b2b…
a16z.com/2018/05/17/b2b…
I like to joke that the best way of investing in fintech is to buy Google stock and Facebook stock (or even CreditKarma private stock!) — that’s where all these companies go to acquire customers
It’s because it’s REALLY hard to have an organically adopted product in financial services. Do you rave about your once-every-10-years mortgage? Will your raving be remembered by the friend who needs it in 5 years?
Some companies have solved this (eg @TransferWise). But for others, you need a quasi-proprietary distribution model to prevent all the economic rent from flowing to a FB or GOOG. And B2B2C is uniquely well suited to fintech since it’s often a horizontal layer (see post)
