EUVC

E361 | EUVC CVC | Emerald VC's Gina Domanig on CVC as a service model and how you work with Corporate Investors

Oct 3, 2024

Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures, discusses her pioneering role as founder of Europe's first independent cleantech venture capital fund. She shares insights into engaging corporate investors and the challenges of startup collaboration. Gina highlights the importance of technical expertise and thorough due diligence in fostering successful partnerships. The conversation delves into leveraging AI for efficiency, the evolving landscape of corporate venture capital, and how to build trust with entrepreneurs for impactful investment outcomes.

56:18

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Episode guests

Gina Domanig

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Emerald Technology Ventures highlights the necessity of technical expertise and thorough due diligence in fostering successful corporate startup partnerships.

The firm's flexible investment model alleviates pressures on corporate investors, promoting longer-term engagements without the constraints of fixed timelines.

Deep dives

Emerald Technology Ventures Overview

Emerald Technology Ventures manages approximately 700 million and operates with a team of 60 professionals, nearly half of whom hold technical degrees. The firm engages predominantly with corporate limited partners (LPs) that aim to integrate sustainability into their core business strategies. By offering a flexible investment approach, Emerald allows corporates to remain invested without the typical pressure of making funding decisions within fixed timelines. This adaptability is crucial as it alleviates the burdensome decision-making processes that can discourage corporate investment in startups.

Intro

2min

Innovative Venture Capital in Sustainability

4min

Evolving Corporate Venture Capital Models

9min

Navigating Corporate Venture Capital

11min

Navigating Corporate Venture Capital in Climate Tech

28min

Navigating Corporate Ventures and Entrepreneurial Relationships

3min

In this episode of the EUVC podcast, Andreas and our in-house CVC expert Jeppe Høier discuss venture capital with Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures.

Gina Domanig is the Managing Partner of Emerald Technology Ventures. In 2000, she founded the business as Europe's first independent cleantech venture capital fund. In addition to Emerald activities, Gina serves on the boards of Die Mobiliar and the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE) Foundation.

In today’s conversation, Gina shares insights on how they landed their first corporate LPs and the challenges of engaging with startups. She also emphasizes the importance of technical depth, thorough due diligence, and being supportive and constructive in the startup ecosystem.

Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀

Chapters:

02:25 Gina's Journey in Venture Capital
03:11 Emerald's Focus on Sustainability and Industrial Technologies
04:08 Flex Term Structure and Corporate Engagement
06:56 Challenges and Innovations in Corporate Partnerships
13:48 Leveraging AI and LLMs in Venture Capital
16:58 Insights on Corporate Venture Capital
28:43 Corporate Culture and Specialist Roles
29:07 Managing Corporate Partnerships
29:33 Investment Process and Portfolio Management
30:26 Corporate Co-Investment and Follow-On Rounds
32:04 Branding and Transparency in CVC
32:52 CVC Team Dynamics and Responsibilities
35:48 Navigating LP Conversations
36:46 Corporate Venture Programs and Team Structure
38:16 Corporate Relationships and Conflict of Interest
49:43 Balancing Corporate and VC Worlds

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