But also a record number (more than half) that had been doing deals that stopped last year.
It was, therefore, little surprise to see a record number of attendees to Paul Holland at Mach49’s workshop yesterday. The case study review of TDK Ventures and how to “start a like a startup” covered the initial perspective about why so many CVCs struggle to launch or survive their first few years.
Japan-based tech firm TDK had actually made about 10 minority equity investments in startups for the prior three years before launching TDK Ventures under Nicolas Sauvage.
By learning from experience, Sauvage was able to approach his CEO as if it was a startup built for success, including Toshiyuki Saito as business liaison between portfolio companies and TDK and two insightful, GCV award-winning investment managers, Anil Achyuta and Andrew Maywah.
Eighteen months and TDK has three exits already from its portfolio of 12 that all have a vision including sustainability at their heart.
TDK Ventures might be doing the right things as it supports entrepreneurs and its parent company but Sauvage and the team are giving back to the next generation as one of the advisory board for the launch of the GCV Institute on Wednesday.
You can hear more case studies and insights by CVCs for CVCs in a mix of roundtables and non-disclosure sessions today and Wednesday’s agenda as part of the GCV Digital Forum.
