Corporate Venturing

Corporate venture capital (CVC) is defined as an equity investment by an established corporation in an entrepreneurial venture. Corporations made $2.3 billion in CVC investments in 2012, and 15.5 percent of all venture capital rounds that year had at least one corporate investor. While down from its peak in terms of absolute dollars, corporate investors have accounted for about 15-20 percent of venture capital activity every year for the past 15 years (NVCA). From the investee perspective, they benefit from the parent firm's industry reputation and the CVC's deep connections to their industry.

We at LightSpeed Innovations, from the start, have courted strong relationships with CVCs and the firms they represent, as only by doing so do we create a strong, vibrant, and healthy startup/innovation ecosystem for the industry.

See below for our current initiatives:

CVC Research Study

The Kauffman Foundation recently (Sep 2016) published their study on corporate venturing. They noted Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) departure from previous patterns, where funds have been active for four years or longer, as opposed to only a couple of years. Is this an indication of persistence or success or both? Would not CVCs need to act in a similar matter to VCs where fund lengths are 10 years, in order to return the fund? Here at LightSpeed Innovations, we are planning a research piece in conjunction with several Penn and Wharton students on corporate venture structures and their implementation in the aerospace domain. What are the success factors? Are aerospace firms confronted with the Innovator's Dilemma. Are boards persuadable?
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Corporate Impact
Hacking for Defense

The startup skills we teach tech founders here at LightSpeed Innovations also can help veterans transition. We have partnered with the Service Academy Angel Network, and Bluestar Families to conduct 2 pilot programs in 2017 to enable VetPreneur success. We believe Steve Blank's lean start-up model and the Hacking for Defense platform builds enduring skillsets that support veteran entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs alike, not only giving them the opportunity to see how their skillset transfers, but also enables them to take advantage of their deep knowledge of the military and enable new innovations!

Learn about Hacking for Defense

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CVC Roundtable Discussion

In 2017, we plan to host four round tables in person and online to discuss CVC success factors and investee viewpoints. We are working to convene experienced CVCs and new CVCs to learn about the challenges and lessons learned and build out networks for success. One of the roundtables will be featured at Wharton Aerospace Ventures in May 2017.

Provide us with your ideas and insights, and help shape the discussion.