Client Assignment · Electronics · Japan
A venture effort that worked informally, ready to become a program.
A Japanese electronics company had run an informal venture effort from Japan, while the technologies it wanted were mostly in the US. Vaxa helped build a formal program and trained the team to run it.
CLIENT
Japanese electronics company
OUTCOME
Eight investments in four years
THE CHALLENGE
An informal effort, ready for structure.
The company's venture activity had no formal structure. The strategic focus was loose, there was no agreed total investment and no set metrics.
It was also based in Japan, while most of the technologies it wanted were in the US.
What Made This Different
A playbook adapted to them, not handed over as is.
Vaxa brought its corporate venture playbook and adapted it to the company's needs, working closely with its sponsors and the person who would run the unit.
The aim was a program the company's own team could run.
WHAT vaxa DID
Program design, training and three hands-on rounds.
01
Program Design
Set how much to invest in total, the metrics to use, and how the technology areas link to the business units that would benefit.
02
Investment Approach
Defined the investment range for a startup, the type of relationship and mutual value for each company, and how involved the company would be after investing.
03
Market Research Training
Trained the team to find startups, rank them and research them, using both secondary and primary research.
04
Three Rounds, Then Handover
We ran the first round and the team followed. They ran the second with us at their side. They ran the third with minimal support from us.
The Outcome
A formal unit, running on its own.
01
A formal venture program
An informal effort became a program with a set budget, clear metrics and a strategic focus.
02
A team that runs it independently
By the third round the team ran the work with minimal support from Vaxa.
03
Relocated to Boston
The unit moved to the US, closer to the technologies the company wanted.
04