Telecoms

Summary of corporate-backed funding initiatives 2011-19

Monthly analysis: July-August 2019

Three corporate venturing windfalls have resulted in three different strategies to maximise shareholder value over the long-term.

With innovation in technology fast outpacing traditional business processes, corporations are increasingly turning to investments as a way of adapting to change and staying ahead of the competition.

New York has one of the most vital tech ecosystems in the world, with Silicon Alley in Manhattan said to be the east coast’s answer to Silicon Valley.

Sister publication Global University Venturing’s analysis of the second quarter of 2019 shows increased investment activity as the year progresses and record-breaking amounts generated through exits.

The developing digital health sector has had to wait almost three years for the public markets to open up to it, but when they did, it was corporate venturing portfolio companies that were first through the flotation exit doors.

Sector review: Telecoms

“WeWork’s Bonkers IPO,” said Fortune’s daily newsletter. “The Weirdness of WeWork’s IPO Filing”, sister publication CEO Daily called it, adding: “If a recession is coming, the WeWork IPO filing… will be a fitting capstone for the peak.”

September started out with news on several life sciences companies about to go public as well as a large acquisition deal of another one of them. This space enjoyed a great number of exits last year and the trend appears on a path to be continued through 2019.

Vodacom Tanzania and Smart Lab have established a $150,000 accelerator that will coach founders of early and growth-stage companies in sectors including mobile, fintech and education.