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Decoding Software's Future

The combination of software and the move to cloud computing remains one of the largest secular growth trends we see, which is driving increased demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions across every sector of the economy.

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Episode 10: Flutter

In this episode of What Matters Most, we delve deep into the world of online sports betting, focusing on the global leader, Flutter. Research Analyst Katherine Bates joins us to discuss Flutter’s journey, its innovative strategies, and how it’s transforming the gambling landscape.

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Instilling a Long-term Focus

At Sands Capital we encourage our investment team to think in decades not quarters. Director of Research Michael Raab, CFA discusses how culture can support the visionary research needed to find businesses creating the future.

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Nubank Transforming the Industry, One Market at a Time

Nu Holdings’ Nubank focuses on driving financial inclusion among underbanked populations who lack sufficient access to mainstream financial services and products, including access to common banking services, such as credit cards or loans.

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Philosophy & Approach

Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that, over time, stock prices will reflect the earnings power and growth of the underlying businesses.

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Stewardship

Our latest annual report offers a comprehensive view of how we add value through active stewardship.

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Public Equity

Our newest strategy takes an unconstrained approach to seeking the best growth businesses outside of the U.S.

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Venture & Growth Equity

Sands Capital invests in innovative businesses across all stages of the growth spectrum

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a man with gray hair wearing a black jacket and striped shirt smiles at the camera

Ian W. Ratcliffe

Executive Managing Director
Executive Managing Partner

Joined Sands Capital

2016

Work Experience

Sands Capital (2016 - 2022)
Arlington, VA | Managing Partner

Enzymatics Inc. (2013 - 2015)
Beverly, MA | CEO

Stemgent Inc. (2008 - 2013)
Cambridge, MA | Founder, CEO

Upstate Inc. (2002 - 2004)
Charlottesville, VA | President

Education

University of Virginia
MBA | Darden School

University of Surrey
Chemical Engineering

Ian is an executive managing partner of the Sands Capital Life Sciences Pulse strategy and an executive managing director. He joined Sands Capital in 2016.

Ian is a serial entrepreneur and has 25 years of experience starting and investing in life sciences technology businesses as an angel, venture, and private equity investor. Ian has served as a founder, CEO, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chairman, director, and advisor to a number of privately held life science product and service businesses. He has focused on cell signaling, drug screening, genomics, sequencing, cancer diagnostics, and cell culture at all stages of business development from initiation through profitability to trade sale. Before joining Sands Capital, Ian was the chairman and CEO of Enzymatics (now Qiagen); founder and CEO of Stemgent (now Reprocell), a stem and iPS cell life sciences tool company; and president of Upstate (now MilliporeSigma), a leading provider of cell signaling research products and services. Ian was also a founding investor in Firefly BioWorks and Genometry, both of which are Sands Capital Ventures investments.

Ian has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Surrey in the U.K. and an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business.

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Notice for non-US Investors

Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading innovative growth businesses, globally. Our approach combines analytical rigor and creative thinking to identify high-quality growth businesses that are creating the future. Through an integrated investment platform spanning venture capital, growth equity and public equity, we provide growth capital solutions to institutions and fund sponsors in more than 40 countries.

An independent, staff-owned firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in London and Singapore, Sands Capital managed more than $53.9B in client assets as of September 30, 2024.

For institutional and professional investors only. Investment advisory fees are described in Part II of the adviser’s Form ADV.
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