I am raising capital, $550K for a small company in the
Does anyone know of a listing or website resource to locate companies that make a strategic investment in other companies?
Answers
I do not know of a "one stop" website that lists companies that make strategic investments or partner with small businesses. We have been most successful in getting such investments by identifying an industry where our product/service/technology makes a real difference then identifying specific businesses in that industry that seem to have the greatest need for what we offer, then using our networks to get warm introductions to decision makers in those businesses. From there it is a sales process to get to a close.
I have found that businesses that do not have a venture fund or make routine investments in smaller & start up businesses, will consider an investment or strategic partnership (licensing or OEM arrangement with up front fees and/or royalties) when you can show them a compelling value proposition for their business & customers.
Good Luck!
Be aware that seeking synergies with corporate investors is a double-edged sword: you could be handing over your intellectual property over to a future enemy. More likely, you will go into your negotiation with a different set of expectations than your potential partner, so it's critical to spell out exactly what you hope to get and monitor that performance over time.
That said, there are plenty of good resources available.
Check out Global Corporate Venturing, a journal focused specifically on the unique issues of corporate VC: www.globalcorporateventuring.com
The WSJ has a useful guide to getting corporate venture capital: http://on.wsj.com/in4dGY
And IBF puts on an annual corporate VC conference: www.corporateventuringconference.com
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