"At the end of the day I want the TradeBanc currency to be as good as, or better than, cash. There's no reason why it shouldn't be, because this is arbitrage-trading wholesale for retail!"

Alexander von Furstenberg

A major investor in TradeBanc is the bright, young, articulate, internet-savvy venture capitalist, Alexander von Furstenberg—son of famed dress designer Diane von Furstenberg and Prince Igor von Furstenberg of Austria. 

“I’m fascinated with the barter business,” he told BarterNews, “as well as the introduction of this major clearinghouse, and the internet. Taken together this will be an entirely new industry—hardly recognizable from the way it is today.”

Von Furstenberg said that as an investor backing TradeBanc he wants the company to become the dominant force within the industry, and expand in such a way there would be very few people or companies that could afford to buy it. “The opportunity is immense. This is truly a billion dollar opening,” he enthused.

In order to obtain a position, that no one else could duplicate, requires constructing a huge barrier to entry. This, in turn, revolves around building a critical mass by lining up affiliates—trade exchanges and corporate barter companies.

“It’s a matter,” von Furstenberg explained, “of being well-capitalized, having a reputable board of directors, and an excellent management team. One that not only can execute, but has solid relationships with trade exchanges and corporate barter companies.

And finally,” he continued, “spending the money up-front to bring it all together.”

When asked about the downside risk, from an investor’s perspective, von Furstenberg replied, “It’s all or nothing. One either becomes the industry’s clearinghouse, or losses their money. I’m betting on Kamm to execute his plan.”

When asked about a timetable for accomplishment, he immediately responded, “We have to act extremely quickly. That’s critical, because someone will establish themselves. Whether it’s Bruce and myself—or someone else—that fact is inevitable. The question is...who will do it? I’m going to work hard with Bruce to make that someone TradeBanc.

Barter News Magazine