Rocky Daehler serves as the managing director of Motorola Solutions Venture Capital (MSVC), the corporate venture capital (CVC) division of US-based communications equipment producer Motorola Solutions.
His role involves overseeing MSVC, which partners and invests in startups developing technologies that are strategic to Motorola Solutions’ core and emerging business including communications, video security and analytics, and public safety workflow software.
Rajan Naik, senior vice-president of strategy and innovation of Motorola Solutions, said: “MSVC has been investing in and partnering with startups for [more than] 20 years, helping drive technology leadership, innovation and business growth for Motorola Solutions.”
Among the target areas are advanced sensor technologies, multi-spectral imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, sound intelligence, location intelligence and wireless communications.
MSVC’s active portfolio companies include augmented reality technology developer Edgybees, augmented reality technology developer Mojo Vision, computer processor developer Syntiant, identity authentication technology company Nok Nok Labs, emergency response technology provider RapidSOS, deep learning technology developer Neurala and digital innovation consulting firm DevMynd.
The unit has scored many notable exits to date, including business intelligence software developer Profitect in a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction involving marking, tracking and computer printing technologies producer Zebra Technologies, as well as Sonim Technologies, an ultra-rugged accessory provider, in an initial public offering, while data collection software provider SceneDoc was acquired by public sector-focused software supplier Tyler Technologies.
Daehler, who has experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, product management, venture capital and corporate development, has been with Motorola Solutions for more than two decades. He had been involved in MSVC a decade ago (then known as Motorola Ventures) before joining the corporate development team. Currently, he maintains his corporate development responsibilities while supervising the CVC unit.
Prior to Motorola Ventures, Daehler spent five years in multiple strategic and product marketing positions at Motorola. He led Motorola PCS’s product marketing efforts to a top-five CDMA (code-division multiple access) wireless operator. During his time at the corporate and PCS strategy offices, he managed M&A, partnerships and strategy design.
Before Motorola, Daehler worked at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Booz, Allen & Hamilton, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on various topics including strategy, business process re-engineering, engineering efficiency and manufacturing productivity.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from Chicago Graduate School of Business (now University of Chicago Booth School of Business).
