Q&A with Aruna Subramanian, managing director, Sabic Ventures
1. First, just give us a quick overview of who you work for, what you do, and how long you have been doing it.
I am the managing director for Sabic Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of [Saudi Arabia-headquartered chemical manufacturer] Sabic and am responsible for our global investments in support of our business and technology strategy. I have been with Sabic for six years now and my previous experience includes [oil and gas producer Shell’s corporate venturing unit] Shell Technology Ventures and [venture capital firm] Chemelot Ventures.
2. What attracted you to CVC?
The potential to make a larger-scale sustainability impact happen through investments that are not driven only by shorter-term financial returns but also longer-term strategic returns. CVCs have a unique role to play in the investment space to complement the conventional VC funds.
3. What have been your greatest successes at your unit?
We have made some very interesting investments in companies such as Qpinch, Imtex, Void Technologies and New Leaf which are all enablers of our sustainability focus. We also actively support Sabic’s TruCircle initiative and should have some interesting announcements soon!
4. What have been your biggest challenges?
Managing timeline expectations between startups and the corporate structure. And bringing realism into an understanding of upscaling challenges and the time it takes for true market penetration.
5. What is your main professional ambition for the future?
Continue to make bigger, better investments and leave a sustainable footprint as my legacy.
6. What do you think all CVCs could do better to make it a stronger industry?
CVCs are one part of the whole investment and innovation ecosystem. I find partnering with financial VCs a great combination to bring both strategic and financial value to a startup. We have to work together if we really are going to change the way conventional industries work. The challenge is too big for any one part to handle alone.
7 And, finally, for colour, what did you do prior to CVC or in your spare time?
I used to work in the oil industry and started my career on an oil rig in the North Sea. I am fond of travelling, music, reading and tennis – I guess my inability to focus on just one thing makes VC a perfect fit for me!
