Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Brightspark Ventures • Fund I completely invested or committed • Fund II 100-120M$ • To be invested predominantly in Montreal – Toronto and Ottawa (offices in Mtl and Toronto) • Seed and early stage software • Very involved in portfolio companies • Focus on IP creation and market opportunity • Pro-active to invest in interesting sectors • Entrepreneur/experts in residence Brightspark Capital Partners More than 20 years private equity experience More than 25 years operational experience A team that has worked together for many years Tony Davis • • • • • Over 20 years experience in software engineering and product design Inventor of WinFax PRO communication system at Delrina Founder of Lanacom (acquired by BackWeb) Founder of Delano (IPO) Co-Founder of Brightspark Sophie Forest • • • • Over 14 years experience in technology venture capital Former Partner at CDP Capital- Technology Ventures Key investments include Servicesoft (acquired by Kana) and Locus (acquired by Infospace) Active Board participation and LP liaison Mark Skapinker • • • • Over 24 years experience in software and technology businesses Co-founder of Delrina (acquired by Symantec) Founder of Balisoft Technologies (acquired by Servicesoft, Broadbase, Kana) Co-Founder of Brightspark Brightspark Approach to Company Building • Brightspark at the “Idea Concept” Stage • • • • • • Brightspark at the “Seed Investor” Stage • • • • • • Identify market potential / needs Focus on interesting “space” with huge potential Identify domain expertise Focus on technology prototype and business planning Move companies to Seed Stage Invest in business opportunities Unique deal-flow Early-stage investor with value-add capabilities Move companies from ideas to exits Experience for trade sales and IPO exits Deep involvement with Portfolio Companies • • • • Zig and Zag philosophy Venture network ready to jump-in Corporate culture Frugality Exit Growth Seed Idea How is Brightspark Different than Others? • Massive amount of experience with software companies • Looking to “make new mistakes and learn from old ones” • Willing to invest in opportunity and not only managers • Competitive advantage through the ability to complement management teams quickly and efficiently • Focused culture led by example – frugality • Companies are closely nurtured • A complementary team: technology, investment, operations What is Brightspark’s Investment Criteria? Software focus • • • • • • • • • • Domain expertise Defendable IP creation Large or growing market opportunity Strong product opportunity Clear value proposition Defined need Early evidence of market acceptance Clear revenue and cost model High value customer ROI Evident exit opportunity Sector focus • • • Enterprise software (“must-have” software) Wireless and communications software Infrastructure software Finding Success in a Recovering Market Proving the Brightspark Model – Think Dynamics • • • • • • • Utilized domain expertise Zigged and Zagged from a “services” to a “product” company Used network of venture advisors when management imploded Planted experts into the company Brightspark led the M&A process Think Dynamics was acquired by IBM in 2003 Investment multiple 8.2X in 2 years Our technology vision / focus • Traditional markets • • • • Still in recovery mode Must have versus nice to have Strong ROI value proposition Defined channel partners • Emerging markets • Mobile communication • IP telephony • Wireless/home networking • Focus on areas where spending is significant Brightspark portfolio example • • • • Siperian (CA) data management Tira Wireless (Tor- Boston) Wireless Iotum (Ottawa) VoIP applications Yariba (Ottawa) VoIP Security • First 2 investments in Fund II • Cluster computing – Montreal • Wireless - Toronto