Top 50 Emerging Leaders 2022 (in alphabetical order by CVC unit): Alisa Band, senior investment manager, Henkel Tech Ventures
Alisa Band is a US-based senior investment manager at Henkel Tech Ventures (HTV), a corporate venturing unit of Germany-headquartered chemicals and consumer goods producer Henkel, having joined the unit in June 2020.
HTV connects entrepreneurs to Henkel’s different business units, which include Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care, in a bid to drive innovation and identify relevant technologies for the corporate.
The unit looks to invest in companies at all stages that are developing new materials, smart surfaces, automated manufacturing equipment, circular economy and advanced packaging. It will also seek out data-driven business models, predictive maintenance, and design and engineering services. In addition, Henkel Adhesives has two incubators covering printed electronics and 3D printing.
HTV has made direct investments in India-headquartered retail tech developer LoveLocal and Israel-based printable sensor developer Feelit, having exited barrier technology manufacturer VitriFlex and coating material producer DropWise.
In addition, the fund has taken limited partner commitments in vehicles run by Richland Capital, Pangaea Ventures, CM Venture Capital, Emerald Technology Ventures and Circularity Capital.
Prior to joining HTV, Band had been global head of tech and startup scouting at speciality minerals and chemicals company ICL Group for six years from 2014, where she and her team looked for disruptive technologies in materials and agricultural fertilisers across North America, Europe and Asia. She helped form research and development collaborations and identify investment opportunities.
Previously, Band was an Israel-based business development manager for more than three years from 2011 at Ramot, which is Tel Aviv University’s technology transfer arm. She led the commercialisation of academic technologies and spinouts in chemistry and material sciences.
Band holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a master’s degree in chemistry and material science and an MBA from Tel Aviv University.
