GCV Institute

CVC Investment Basics is a high-level introduction to the VC investment process, emphasizing nuances and considerations for corporate investors. The course provides an overview of the unique end-to-end strategic investing perspective that enables CVCs to deliver value to both parent and portfolio, while highlighting implications for how corporates participate in VC funding rounds. While CVC Investment Basics is delivered primarily via self-paced learning, the course also includes a quarterly subscription to a live online session with an expert panel.

Each quarter, we offer a live online discussion with an expert panel including a CVC, a VC, and an attorney.  Participants gather for 90 minutes to discuss key course concepts and contemporary challenges in an interactive Q&A format. The live online expert panel provides an opportunity for course alums to deepen their understanding of the VC investment process with an eye towards making it more efficient and impactful within their own companies.  The final 30 minutes of the session is devoted to randomized networking, allowing participants to meet one another in a smaller online setting. The March 29 guest experts included Ian Goldstein, Fenwick and West Attorney, Kiersten Stead, DCVC, and Dave Stevenson, Merck GHI.  In that session, participant questions led to a discussion about the ways entrepreneurs and corporations may think about investment terms and investment practices, with each expert offering practical advice on a range of topics:

Kiersten highlighted how important it is to be self-aware.  With an understanding of your limitations, both personally from a skill set, and also as an institution, you are in a better position to hear and act on advice from others. 

Ian overviewed some of the most important issues to understand about cap tables and financing, and talked about valuations and the economic terms in the cap table, and the voting dynamics affecting governance, as two of the major areas to assess.  

Dave shared his experience at Merck, in streamlining the investment process to enable efficient and timely decision making and approvals, and shared examples of how investment terms and practices are adjusted for different deal types.  

These are just a few examples distilled from an hour of spirited discussion which included many other topics and some hard-won advice from experienced professionals.  

We’ve opened the quarterly online panel discussion to all GCV Institute Investment Programs and Investment Basics alumni.  We are looking forward to the June 8th session, where three new experts will field questions and offer their advice about the investment process. Bring your questions and plan to engage in the discussion and stay for the randomized networking.

June 8th CVC Investment Basics Quarterly Live Online Expert Panel Discussion

We are delighted to be welcoming the following speakers, starting with our CVC expert:

Jennifer Ard, Head of Investment Operations, Intel Capital

Jennifer is a Managing Director and Head of Investment Operations for Intel Capital. She joined Intel Capital in 2011. In her role, Jen is responsible for managing Intel Capital’s investment-related operations and associated administrative matters. Additionally, she is primarily focused on investing in silicon-related companies and has been involved in multiple deals including Intel’s $3.2B investment in ASML.Jen currently serves as a director or observer on the board of Fabric8Labs, MetaLenz, MemVerge, Lightbits, and KM Labs. Prior to Intel Capital, Jen was a Finance Controller in Intel. She graduated from Brigham Young University with her MBA and BS in Management and is a CFA Charterholder.

Bringing the VC perspective, we’re delighted to be welcoming:

Michael Jeon, Partner, Solasta Ventures 

 Michael brings over 18 years of diverse experience across venture capital, startup operations and large corporate roles. Michael joined AJU IB Investment in 2019 as a partner to lead the firm’s digital investments in Silicon Valley. Previously, Michael was VP of Business Operations at MindMeld, a Conversational AI startup which was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2017 for $125 million, and subsequently led business development for Cisco’s Cognitive Collaboration group. Prior to joining MindMeld, Michael held investment roles at Samsung Ventures and was the founding Head of Samsung Ventures Europe. Earlier experiences include working in large MNCs and small startups in various business and engineering roles. Michael holds a BS in EECS from UC Berkeley, MS in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

 

And covering all the important legal implications, we’ll hear from:

Mark Radcliffe, Partner, DLA Piper

Mark Radcliffe's practice is split evenly between corporate securities (particularly venture capital transactions) and intellectual property licensing and strategy. He works with technology companies and companies that use technology throughout the world. Currently, he is particularly focused on the use of blockchain technology and the use of tokens for capital formation and implementing new business models. Mark has been working in Silicon Valley for over 30 years and has worked on over 1,000 venture capital transactions. He has significant experience in applying the law to the issues raised by new technologies, such as open source software, blockchain, IoT and domain names.  For example, in 1994, he assisted Network Solutions, Inc. in developing the first domain dispute resolution system which is still the basis for the system in use today. His clients range from Fortune 500 such as Oracle Corporation and Sony Corporation to unknown startups. Currently, he and his team work with over 50 startups. He has worked across a wide variety of industries, including software (in particular open source software), blockchain, IoT, semiconductor, consumer electronics, content licensing (from music to characters), and medical devices.

 

See additional course information and registration about the CVC Investment Basics course and features on our website.