Name: Anthony Braunthal
Companies: Resi Ventures, Brownvalley Investments and Equitech
Location: Melbourne
There’s no doubt about it, Anthony Braunthal is a busy man. He’s the founder of three currently operating start-ups, a director at Incite Consulting Services and Kennedy Reid and a non-executive director at Freestyle Technology.
For most, one job is enough, but Braunthal breaks the mould and despite having at least six jobs, relishes his free time. In early 2003 Braunthal started CiT professionals and in seven years it went from a standing start to a valuation of over $50 million.
Braunthal sold CiT Professionals in June 2010 and since then has founded three more multimillion dollar companies: Resi Ventures (broad acre land sub-divisions), Brownvalley Investments (supplies mortgage backed-loans to fund business people with first and second mortgage security) and Equitech (equity structuring and capital raising).
Brownvalley Investments and Equitech have a turnover of $4 million annually and despite being less than three years old, Resi Ventures has a turnover of $8 million.
Braunthal is known for his skills in investing, recruitment and business management, but he is also a father, husband and bicycle enthusiast. Smart Company had a chat to Braunthal about hard work, holidays and creating a money-making business model.
Being a family man, Braunthal begins each day when his kids wake.
“I typically get up at 7am when the kids do. First thing I do is check my emails, catch up on what’s happened overnight and have breakfast with the family. After that I will take the kids to school or sometimes I’ll ride to school with my youngest one.”
For Braunthal, exercise is an important part of his life and helps him to keep his mind focused.
“Every day I exercise, either in the night or the morning or both. I’m an avid rider – I do a lot of mountain biking, both cross country and downhill and BMX. I’ve raced a lot over the years and I just like the exhilaration. I like a good work out, but it’s also mentally challenging.
“I also play racquet sports, tennis is the main one I do nowadays. I enjoy doing things I’m good at and like to perfect my craft, whatever it is. I need that adrenaline kick one way or another. The fitter I am, the better my mind works, that’s pretty much how I’ve always been,” he says.
On Monday mornings Braunthal regularly makes the trip from Melbourne to Sydney to meet with the other directors and executives of Kennedy Reid (an investment company which funds start-up recruitment firms in a variety of industries).
“I get up to Sydney reasonably regularly now and have Monday morning catch-ups with all of the leaders from the businesses.”
These regular face-to-face meetings are a time of strategising for Braunthal and his colleagues.
“There is constantly dialogue going on with all the companies I’m a director of, so I can continuously add value and steer them in the right direction. Whether it’s formal board meetings or informal chats with the other directors, face-to-face or over the phone, it is continuous because the businesses are constantly evolving.
“I’m trying to impart my knowledge and experience in rapidly growing enterprises and this needs to be done on a consistent, regular basis,” he says.
