Partnership and business unit sponsorship are the keys to Zebra Technologies’ strategic investment initiative, according to Tony Palcheck, managing director responsible for sourcing, negotiating and closing minority equity investments.
He said Zebra Ventures had backed 14 portfolio companies focused on retail, healthcare and transportation and logistics, including B2M Solutions, Canvas, DisplayData, GainSpan, Gimbal, LifeMed ID, Profitect, Retailigence, RF Controls, Revionics, ScanBuy and Visage.
In a guest comment published by GCV recently, Palcheck said: “The portfolio companies benefit from Zebra’s financial support through all development phases and enjoy continued access to Zebra’s engineers and distribution networks. Zebra benefits from visibility and access to leading-edge technology, while gaining the potential to participate in the value we may create through working with the startup.”
But with more than a decade’s experience as managing director at Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, Palcheck added: “While there are many great examples of corporate venture capital groups, there are also some corporations that really have not mastered the game of venture capital yet. These companies might invest in one or two startups, but do not have a well-thought-out investment strategy.
“In addition, they neither understand nor follow venture capital protocol and they do not dedicate the appropriate internal resources necessary to extract strategic and financial value from their investments.”
Zebra spun out from Motorola and Palcheck moved with it, having worked at the business since 1997.