Physic Ventures, a US-based venture capital firm backed by consumer goods companies Unilever and PepsiCo, has set up a work experience programme so staff at public relations firm Edelman can spend six months at the investment manager’s portfolio companies.
The Physic Fellows will work with executives at Physic’s portfolio of companies to provide counsel in corporate positioning, stakeholder relations and social and digital engagement.
The program, which launches this month, will select Fellows from Edelman’s team of more than 100 in San Francisco, with Debra Jack (pictured), executive vice president at Edelman and head of the San Francisco office’s corporate, CSR and crisis communications practices, as the first Physic Fellow.
William Rosenzweig, managing director of Physic Ventures, said: "There is a natural synergy between our efforts to help category-creating businesses lead the way in the areas of health and sustainability."
Physic Ventures funds Alliance Health, Recyclebank, GoodGuide, Own Products and Revolution Foods.
Jay Porter, general manager of Edelman San Francisco. "Edelman staff will gain in-depth understanding of the challenges facing these early-stage businesses, and Physic’s portfolio companies will benefit from communications counsel from across the Edelman network."