Experienced Team
Many of the top convergent technology companies
of the future are being founded by entrepreneurs who are coming
out of research environments. They are exceptionally skilled in
developing and perhaps even commercializing technology, but may
not have much experience in starting and growing a successful business.
The Alameda Principals are experienced not only as investors and
strategists, but as entrepreneurs and global high tech executives
themselves. They can assist in building all aspects of a successful
company – such as developing sales and marketing channels,
establishing manufacturing alliances, developing a strategies and
operating plans, closing key customers and when the company is ready,
helping to recruit the full management team.
Our Scientific Advisors are an integral part of
Alameda’s team and value proposition. They are world-class
experts in the wide variety of technical disciplines that we expect
to evaluate when investing in convergent technologies. Their charter
is to help us evaluate the strength of prospective portfolio company
technologists, the competitiveness of their technology, and the
realistic timeframe to commercialization. In addition, they refer
us to exceptional investment opportunities and even more specialized
experts in their network as necessary for due diligence. If there
is mutual interest, they may also develop a direct advisory relationship
with some of our portfolio companies to help them refine their core
technologies.
Propietary Deal Flow
We have an extensive global network of scientists,
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, limited partners,
consultants, lawyers, accountants and bankers who routinely refer
prospective portfolio companies to us for investment consideration.
We also evaluate many opportunities that come to us as a result
of our extensive conference speaking schedule and Alameda media
coverage.
We are especially proud of the close relationships
we have developed with leading researchers and management at some
of the most prestigious universities and national labs on the West
Coast. These relationships often give us an advanced look at the
most promising start-ups 6 to 9 months before they are ready to
spin out of these institutions.
Proven Evaluation and Investment Value-Adding
Process
We start with an initial opportunity screen based
on the strength of the management team, potential for strategic,
financial and technical success, and risk. As we continue our due
diligence, our Scientific Advisors provide a thorough assessment
of the technology and technologists, while our Investment Team pursues
a thorough business and strategic due diligence based on their extensive
investing, operational, strategic, financing and legal experience.
If we decide to invest in a prospective portfolio
company, we will often help assemble a syndicate of venture capitalists
who we think can add value to the company’s success. As a
lead investor, we structure our process to be able to add value.
Geographically, we focus on regions where we are readily accessible
to portfolio management teams, and we limit the number of portfolio
companies that any of us are actively working with to ensure that
each company receives adequate attention. While there is a lead
Alameda principal assigned to each investment, we take a team approach
with all of our investments. Each member of the Alameda team stands
ready to assist any company where he or she can be of help.
Leveraging Strategic Limited Partners to Accelerate
Success
Alameda's strategy is to include as Limited Partners,
companies representing a diverse group of global corporate investors
who share a common interest in convergent technologies. These partners
have expressed a willingness to establish strategic alliances that
can help accelerate the progress of our portfolio companies when
and where it makes mutual business sense.
Potential relationships include manufacturing, sales
or distribution alliances, co-development projects, or customer/supplier
relationships. In addition, it is expected that our Limited Partners
may also provide co- or follow-on funding to support such an alliance.
In certain cases, they may have employees who can work closely with
our investment professionals to evaluate prospective companies and
license their technologies for other, complementary markets. |
