Stars align for Cognovo's creation out of UK-listed semiconductor designer ARM.

Global Corporate Venturing editor James Mawson was a conference advisory board member at the IBF 13th Annual Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering conference February 16-18, 2011. (see quotes at bottom of article.)

David Teten, chief executive of Teten Advisors, with Chris Farmer, venture partner at General Catalyst Partners, make five recommendations to improve the volume and relevance of dealflow.

Corporate venturing has undergone massive changes in the past 50 years, tracking with the growth and evolution of venture capital (VC) in a sequence of phases or waves punctuated by economic downturns.

Gloom lifts a little for independent venture capital firms and chief executives, with confidence rising round the world.

Survey by US trade body predicts corporate venturing to become standard at Fortune 500 companies.

Average life of a corporate venturing programme increased from 2.5 years to 3.8 years over the past decade as they become a recognised part of the innovation toolkit.

The number of maturing venture capital funds heavily outnumbers those being raised as the industry contracts.

In-house solutions are being replaced by partnerships

Companies are best when portfolio out their corporate venturing unit's portfolio when the division is managed independently.