US-based stock exchange operator and financial technology provider Nasdaq launched a corporate venturing vehicle called Nasdaq Ventures on Wednesday to strategically invest in and collaborate with startups.
Nasdaq Ventures will be headed by Gary Offner, who was a managing director for Morgan Stanley’s equity division for more than three years up to early 2016 as part of a 10-year stint at the investment bank.
Nasdaq’s formation of the fund comes as part of an investment initiative it said began unofficially in late 2015, and which has involved participation in rounds for blockchain finance technology developer Chain and cognitive computing company Digital Reasoning.
The unit will provide sums ranging from less than $1m at seed stage to about $10m in late-stage rounds, focusing on areas such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, new financial marketplaces, digital financial transfer technology, and data, analytics and content aggregation.
Adena Friedman, president and CEO of Nasdaq, said: “Investing in pioneering fintech firms, who are developing unique technologies, continues our history of being a platform and partner of choice for the most innovative companies in the world.
“In addition, through this program we plan to accelerate the pace of innovation to ensure our clients continue to benefit from the technologies that are reshaping the capital markets.”