Lionbrand Invest (Lbi) is a Nigerian-based investment firm that emerged from a 2019 merger. Their 2020 pitch deck outlines a highly diversified strategy, seeking to deploy capital across agribusiness, real estate crowdfunding, financial markets, and a professional training academy. With a reported 1,700+ active investors and ₦109M+ in gross earnings for the 2019 financial year, the company positions itself as an accessible entry point for retail investors, offering buy-ins for as little as $25. The deck culminates in a specific equity offer: 5 million shares at ₦10 each, requiring a minimum ₦…
Key takeaways
- The company was formed through a merger of two firms in Q1 2019 (Slide 4).
- Lbi reported ₦109M+ in gross earnings and ₦92M+ in profit after tax for the 2019 financial year (Slide 5).
- The investment strategy is split across four main pillars: financial intelligence tools, a training academy, portfolio management, and startup investment (Slide 2).
- The firm claims a competitive advantage through a low entry barrier, allowing individuals to invest with as little as $25 (Slide 3).
- A detailed roadmap through Q4 2021 includes plans for a mobile app launch and a physical presence in Lagos (Slide 4).
- The deck specifies a 1,700+ active investor base as of the 2020 presentation (Slide 5).
- The funding ask is structured as a share sale of 5 million shares at ₦10 per share (Slide 6).
- The minimum investment threshold for the current offer is set at ₦1,000,000 (Slide 6).
Executive Summary: The Diversified Retail Investment Play
The 2020 pitch deck for Lionbrand Invest (Lbi) presents a company attempting to bridge the gap between retail capital and high-yield investment sectors in Nigeria. Formed via a merger in early 2019, Lbi positions itself not just as a fund, but as a financial ecosystem encompassing asset management, startup venture capital, and professional education. The deck is characterized by a heavy emphasis on historical earnings and a very specific, structured equity offer, though it lacks the traditional team-building narrative found in Silicon Valley-style pitches.
Slide 1: Title and Branding
The cover slide establishes the brand identity under the name 'Lionbrand Invest' (Lbi). It is dated 2020, providing a clear temporal context for the financial data that follows. The visual theme uses a high-contrast black, red, and white palette, which is maintained consistently throughout the presentation.
Slide 2: The Four-Pillar Solution
Lbi defines its 'Solution' through four distinct business activities. First, the use of financial intelligence tools for low-risk, high-interest projects. Second, the creation of an 'academy' to train and certify investment professionals. Third, bespoke portfolio management for high-net-worth individuals. Fourth, direct investment into startups. This slide suggests a highly diversified business model, which can be viewed as either a robust hedge against market volatility or a lack of focus for a relatively young firm.
Slide 3: Competitive Advantage and Accessibility
This slide highlights four key differentiators. High Project Returns and 24/7 Customer Support are standard claims, but the most compelling points are Project Payout Plan (monthly profits instead of long wait periods) and Low Price Entry . The deck explicitly states that individuals can invest in projects with as little as $25. This indicates that Lbi is targeting a mass-market retail audience rather than just institutional or accredited investors.
Slide 4: The Strategic Roadmap (2019-2021)
The roadmap provides a chronological view of the company's evolution. It notes the Q1 2019 merger that birthed the firm. In 2020, the company focused on office acquisition and the launch of 'StartupGo' for venture investments. The 2021 projections are ambitious, including a mobile app launch, a Series B funding round, and the establishment of a physical presence in Lagos. Citing a 'Series A' in Q3 2020 and a 'Series B' in Q2 2021 suggests a very aggressive fundraising cadence.
Slide 5: Financial Statistics and Traction
This is the most data-dense slide in the deck. It reports ₦139M+ in total deposits and ₦109M+ in gross earnings for the 2019 financial year. The earnings are broken down by sector: ₦31M+ from Real Estate, ₦25M+ from Financial Markets, and ₦23M+ from Agribusiness. The slide also claims 1,700+ active investors. A bar chart on the right shows 'Profit' growth from Q1 2019 to Q2 2020, showing a generally upward trend, peaking at over ₦20M in Q2 2020.
Slide 6: The Equity Offer
Unlike many decks that leave the 'Ask' for a private conversation, Lbi is explicit. They are offering 5 million shares at ₦10 per share, based on a 'comparable company analysis (CCA).' The minimum buy-in is 100,000 shares, totaling ₦1,000,000. This slide transforms the deck from a general overview into a direct sales tool for an equity round.
Slide 7: Closing and Contact
The final slide features a quote from Managing Director Lovemore Leonard. He shares a personal story of passing on an investment in Konga in 2012 to buy a Blackberry phone, noting those shares would now be worth ₦167 Million. This 'fear of missing out' (FOMO) tactic is used to drive urgency. The slide provides a generic help email and a Nigerian phone number for contact.
What Works in the Lbi Pitch Deck
1. Granular Revenue Breakdown: By showing exactly how much money was earned from agribusiness versus real estate versus consultancy (Slide 5), the founders demonstrate a high level of transparency regarding their current operations. This builds trust with potential investors who want to see where the yield is actually coming from.
2. Clear Entry Points: The mention of a $25 entry point for projects (Slide 3) combined with a ₦1M minimum for the equity offer (Slide 6) clearly defines the two ways to engage with the company: as a customer/user or as a corporate shareholder.
3. Visual Consistency: The deck is professionally designed with a consistent color scheme and clear typography. The roadmap (Slide 4) is particularly well-executed, making a complex timeline easy to digest at a glance.
What is Missing from the Lbi Pitch Deck
1. The Team Slide: This is the most glaring omission. Investors back people, especially in the financial services sector where trust and regulatory compliance are paramount. Aside from a single quote from the MD on the final slide, there is no information on the founders' backgrounds, their previous exits, or the expertise of the broader management team.
2. Regulatory and Legal Framework: Operating an investment firm that takes deposits and manages portfolios in Nigeria requires specific licenses from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). The deck does not mention the company's regulatory status or how it protects investor funds legally.
3. Use of Funds: While the deck asks for ₦50 million, it does not explain how that capital will be deployed. Will it be used for the Lagos office expansion, the mobile app development, or as liquidity for the investment pools? A 'Use of Proceeds' chart is a standard requirement that is absent here.
What a Founder Should Copy
1. The Specificity of the Offer: Founders often shy away from putting a price on their shares in a deck. Lbi's approach of stating the share price, the valuation method (CCA), and the minimum buy-in (Slide 6) is refreshing and efficient. It pre-qualifies investors before they even pick up the phone.
2. Multi-Year Roadmap: Showing a merger in the past and a physical expansion in the future (Slide 4) gives the company a sense of momentum. It shows that the current raise is just one step in a long-term plan that has already achieved significant milestones.
3. The Traction Slide: The combination of a list of key metrics (Deposits, Gross Earnings, Profit) with a visual growth chart (Slide 5) is the gold standard for a traction slide. It provides both the 'what' and the 'trend' simultaneously.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary business model of Lionbrand Invest?
- Lionbrand Invest operates as a multi-sector investment vehicle. According to Slide 2, they use financial intelligence tools to invest client funds into low-risk projects, manage portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, and invest in startups. Additionally, they aim to operate an 'academy' to certify financial professionals. Their revenue is diversified across agribusiness, real estate, and financial markets, as detailed in their 2019 earnings report on Slide 5.
- How much capital is Lbi seeking to raise in this deck?
- Slide 6 explicitly outlines the offer: the company is selling 5 million shares at a price of ₦10 per share. This equates to a total capital raise of ₦50,000,000 (approximately $130,000 USD based on 2020 exchange rates). The slide also notes a minimum buy-in of 100,000 shares, meaning the company is looking for a maximum of 50 investors for this specific tranche.
- What is the company's historical financial performance?
- Slide 5 provides a breakdown of the 2019 financial year. The company reported ₦139M+ in total deposits from investors and ₦109M+ in gross earnings. The most significant revenue contributors were Real Estate (₦31M+), Financial Markets (₦25M+), and Agribusiness (₦23M+). They reported a high net profit margin, with ₦92M+ in profit after tax and adjustments.
- What are the key milestones on the Lbi roadmap?
- The roadmap on Slide 4 spans from 2019 to late 2021. Key past milestones include the 2019 merger and the launch of agribusiness and real estate projects. Future-looking milestones for 2021 included a mobile app launch in Q1, a Series B funding round in Q2, the start of the Lionbrand Academy in Q3, and establishing a physical presence in Lagos by Q4.
- Who is leading the company according to the deck?
- The deck is notably thin on leadership details. There is no dedicated team slide featuring biographies or headshots. The only named executive is Lovemore Leonard, identified as the 'MD' (Managing Director) on Slide 7. The final slide uses a personal anecdote from Leonard regarding a missed investment opportunity in Konga to encourage potential investors to act.
