Marianne Abib-Pech argues that leadership, like a precious coin
or a bottle of wine, is an asset in which to invest.
Month: April 2014
Analysis: The successful timing of internationalisation
The internationalisation of new ventures can be seen as a time-based entrepreneurial process determined by the venture’s knowledge and resource base as well as the strategic decisions taken over time. A group of researchers led by Niina Nummela of Turku School of Economics observed: “In the case of international new ventures, the key strategic decision… Continue reading Analysis: The successful timing of internationalisation
The clean deal: Basketball and VC hegemony in the US
Tom Whitehouse is disappointed and surprised by the number
of US clean-tech corporate venturing, venture capital and family
office investors that fail to invest in European companies.
News focus: Power breakfast at Newport Beach
Andrew Gaule summarises a discussion on identifying and communicating strategic and financial benefits that took place as part of the Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering Conference in California.
Gaule’s Question Time: An investment in real growth
Gaule: What is the key purpose and objective of Monsanto Growth Ventures? Hamer: First of all we are here to create future options and test cases for developing new growth opportunities for the corporation. Monsanto has grown at about 20% earnings before interest and taxes per annum for about the past 10 years, so… Continue reading Gaule’s Question Time: An investment in real growth
Comment: Engineering efficient exits
This is the first of three articles by UK-based law firm MJ Hudson looking at how to ensure you make smart exits for your portfolio companies. After a promising start to the year, global merger and acquisition (M&A) deal values fell by 12.7% from the third to the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the… Continue reading Comment: Engineering efficient exits
Comment: Hurdles in meeting a unit’s objectives
Corporate venturing units are often thought to service primarily the strategic needs of the corporate parent – technology learning, platform shaping and the like. To achieve this objective it seems logical to embed corporate venturing activities tightly within the parent company. Our survey of 25 corporate venturing units, covering a cross-section of industries and geographies,… Continue reading Comment: Hurdles in meeting a unit’s objectives
hCentive finds $35m from new strategic backer
An undisclosed corporate investor has funded healthcare software provider hCentive’s $35m early stage round.
Malaysia’s MyTeksi set for more funding
MyTeksi, the Malaysia-based operator of a taxi ordering app, is reportedly looking to raise $10m in the form of a loan or convertible instrument, according to sources, which said the investor could be the Malaysia-based CIMB Investment Bank, The Star newspaper has reported. The company is already backed by the corporate venturing unit of Singaore… Continue reading Malaysia’s MyTeksi set for more funding
Curtain up for AdStage in $1.4m seed round
Japan-based internet company Digital Garage’s incubator has invested in a $1.4m seed round of funding for AdStage, a cross-network ad campaign technology business for small-to medium-sized businesses.
Comment: Adventures in banking
Ten weeks into my new role at Silicon Valley Bank, fresh from my tenure at Microsoft Ventures, I wanted to share a perspective from SVB. Most of you already know SVB and that we bank the majority of the best startups and venture firms, but there is perhaps less awareness of our work with… Continue reading Comment: Adventures in banking
Tengelmann helps Westwing soar to $99m
Tengelmann Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of German retail firm Tengelmann Group, has invested in a €72m ($98.7m) equity round raised by Germany-based e-commerce company Westwing. Tengelmann was joined the round by other existing backers including investment firm Odey Asset Management, Access Industries, Holtzbrinck Ventures, Kinnevik, and Summit Partners. Financial services firm Fidelity Worldwide Investment… Continue reading Tengelmann helps Westwing soar to $99m
Google Ventures packs a $4m punch at cyber threats
Google Ventures has led a $4m series A round of funding for SaaS-based cybersecurity company ThreatStream, which will be used to add a new layer of cybersecurity for enterprise and government customers.
Government corner: HTGF invests ‘for mankind’
Three months into the year, Germany-based public-private fund High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) has already made several new investments – including Swiss vaccine developer Amal Therapeutics, which, it is claimed, has huge potential “not only economically but also for mankind”. Bonn-headquartered HTGF was established in 2005 to provide equity financing for technology start-ups in Germany. It… Continue reading Government corner: HTGF invests ‘for mankind’