Europe needs a Lady Thatcher figure, writes Marianne Abib-Pech.

Our industry just took one big step towards legitimacy with the hiring of renowned media executive Ynon Kreiz as executive chairman of Maker Studios. The industry finally has one of its own at the helm of the largest YouTube network.

Carol David Daniel (pictured), head of technology transfer and commercialisation in the enterprise office, City University, London, is writing in a personal capacity.

Lesa Mitchell, vice-president of innovation and networks at the Kauffman Foundation, said: "This research supports the notion that graduate students have an important role in commercialising their inventions from the university lab and they need support models to help them advance to the commercial marketplace."

The results show that corporate venturing-backed companies are more likely to secure a successful exit and, perhaps more surprisingly, to receive higher valuations and acquisition premiums.