Nicolas’ path into TDK and into corporate venturingExploration vs exploitation and the “small helicopter” analogy for corporate VCWhy TDK started with a small but meaningful first fund and how that design de‑risked the modelStrategic value as “pre‑financial” and why TDK Ventures positions itself as “purely financial”The Groq story, high conviction before consensus, and the role of business model innovationHow TDK Ventures recruits for passion, kindness, diversity, and founder empathyEqual win engagements and the engagement checkerboard connecting 50+ portfolio companies with 65 internal TDK teamsThe professionalization of CVC and the “yin and yang” relationship with traditional VC in the next decadeHost: Drew Beechler, VP of Marketing, Alloy Partners, and host of AdvantagedGuest: Nicolas Sauvage, Founder and President, TDK VenturesTDK Ventures Investment Scorecard (open source): https://tdk-ventures.com/news/insights/open-source-tdk-ventures-investment-scorecard/TDK Ventures Engagement Checkerboard (open source): https://tdk-ventures.com/news/insights/open-source-mothership-startup-engagements-tracker/Why VCs Should Use Net Promoter Scores with Founders https://hbr.org/2024/09/why-vcs-should-use-net-promoter-scores-with-foundersNicolas' Corporate Venturing Insider podcast: https://cv-insider.com/Starting a New Corporate VC: https://youtu.be/QKhw6XvGs0c?si=9Dyl-WTVv-opvtzLHiring for Decision Quality at TDK VenturesAn Insider Investor View on GroqGCVI SummitWorld of Corporate Venturing research reportResources & Related Links
Advantaged: An Alloy Partners Podcast
View all episodes
