René Savelsberg eight years ago helped set up Chrysalix Set as the management company for Set Fund I with €40m ($55m) backed by Netherlands-based utilities Delta and Essent. Currently Chrysalix Set also actively manages Set Fund II with commitments from the same and new investors.

Savelsberg, chief executive of Chrysalix Set, said: “Delta and Essent were both mandated by the Dutch government to set up this fund. They looked for management to run the fund and for people who had a history in corporate venturing, speaking the language of corporates in the venturing world.

“Through their relationship with Vancouver-based Chrysalix EVC and Robeco, they came to know us – Wouter Jonk [Chrysalix Set’s managing director] and myself. They asked us to consider doing this and we jumped on it. We were at Philips corporate venturing.”

Savelsberg joined the Philips corporate venturing unit in Palo Alto, California, in 1998. Between then and 2007, he worked in various roles across Philips both in the US and Europe. His work at Philips goes back to 1985. Before that, he spent two and a half years at start-up company INAD
Computer Group in Eindhoven, Netherlands. He studied technology management at Eindhoven University of Technology.