The Top 10: #1 Dina Routhier, president, Stanley Ventures
Dina Routhier has recently assumed a president role at Stanley Ventures, the corporate venture capital (CVC) unit of US-based hardware product maker Stanley Black & Decker (SBD), where she leads the team.
She said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build and extend upon the rock-solid foundation built by Larry Harper since the founding of Stanley Ventures four years ago. Our team will continue with our current strategy of working closely with Stanley, Black & Decker’s business units to uncover, invest and partner with the most innovative early stage companies in our markets.”
Stanley Ventures concentrates on SBD’s different businesses: tools and storage, hospital and healthcare, commercial security, pipeline services, fastening solutions, and construction and demolition. The areas of focus include the internet of things (IoT), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and computer vision, 3D printing, automation, robotics and industrial IoT.
In 2020, Stanley Ventures conducted three deals for MSuite, the creator of a collaboration software platform for the construction industry; Evolv Technology, a contactless security technology developer; and Triditive, a 3D printing platform operator which graduated from Stanley + Techstars Accelerator.
The unit’s investments in 2019 included patient monitoring system developer VitalTech, homecare technology producer Pillo Health, electrical charging technology developer FreeWire Technologies, as well as additive manufacturing technology developers AstroPrint, MetalMaker 3D and Calt Dynamics.
Routhier has more than 25 years of experience investing in and acquiring technology companies throughout the US. In her new role, she sources and leads investments in innovative, early-stage companies that are strategically relevant to SBD’s business units.
Larry Harper, former vice-president and head of Stanley Ventures, said: “Dina has been in the space for about 20 years and is a fantastic person and investor. She understands the corporate investing environment and will lead Stanley Ventures to even greater results as she takes the helm.
“As we have made 38 investments over the past five years, all still operational, she is taking over a machine that has produced some great results for the SBD business. SBD is very excited to have a diverse leader for our venture strategy and Dina could not be a better choice.”
Based in Boston in the US state of Massachusetts, Routhier joined Stanley Ventures in 2017 from design software provider Autodesk’s corporate development and CVC unit, where she led acquisitions and strategic investments.
“CVC provided me the perfect opportunity to merge the early-stage equity investing skills I honed at Mass Ventures with the large corporate skills I honed at Autodesk. I am passionate about SBD’s ‘for those who make the world’ mission to empower people to build, connect and protect our world,” Routhier said.
“To be successful at Stanley Ventures, we need to forge tight relationships with our business units so that we deeply understand their strategy and understand how accessing outside innovation can help them achieve their goals.”
Routhier joined Stanley Ventures in 2017 from design software provider Autodesk’s corporate development and CVC unit, where she led acquisitions and strategic investments. Previously, she spent 12 years at venture capital firm Mass Ventures an investing partner.
