How to Get a Corporate Venture Capitalist to Invest in Your Innovation

After years of hesitation, corporations are entering the world of venture capitalism. Their contributions are increasing steadily with the number of active corporate investors tripling from 2011 to 2016. In fact, 75 of the Fortune 100 companies are now participating in venture capital investing. These businesses come from all different sectors. Corporate venture capital (CVC) branches have been established in companies from Google and Qualcomm to Johnson & Johnson.

Securing Corporate Venture Capital funding

This is an attractive opportunity for large corporations, as they can supply this CVC funding in order to support the development of advanced technologies for use in their operations, or to help build a strong company for their portfolio with hopes that it may be acquired.…

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Why Investors Don’t Love Your Hardware Startup and What You Can do About It

Hardware-focused entrepreneurs know that starting and scaling a hardware startup is a monumental task. Between product creation, manufacturing, supply chain, sales and branding, it takes focus and stamina. Not surprisingly, nearly 90% of new startups are software focused.

Hardware startup founder

According to PWC and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), of the companies receiving venture funding for the first time in Q4 2015, software companies received the largest share, accounting for 37% of the dollars and 39% of the deals. Investment in hardware was less than a quarter of the amount invested in software. So why are VC’s hesitant to invest in hardware companies and how can you finance yourself without their funding?…

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