Corporate venture capital: opportunity or constraint for startups
Working with a CVC brings market access but can narrow your independence. When is it worth it?
Corporate investment is a different transaction: part of its value is not money.
What it brings
- Access to enterprise customers from day one
- Technical infrastructure and licences that take years to build
- Credibility in negotiations with large counterparties
What it takes
Freedom in choosing customers. If the parent company is a potential competitor to your customers, part of the market effectively closes. That belongs on paper before signing, not after.
