Global Midwest Alliance
888.808.0462
Driving Innovation and Growth
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Global Midwest Alliance, Clareo Partners, Midwest Research University Network and sponsors CME Group, Energy Foundry and Polsinelli invite you to explore the opportunities and challenges of corporate venturing: Partnering with, and investing in, companies to accelerate innovation and drive growth.
Driven by the need to accelerate growth, create optionality and hedge against future risks, leading companies recognize that innovation can no longer be generated solely from within the four walls of the company – innovation must also come from external sources. Today, corporate venturing and innovation partnering are recognized as powerful tools in the innovation arsenal. Last year alone, corporate venture groups deployed more than $2.2 billion in capital and accounted for over 15% of all venture capital deals involving corporate venture funds. However, a strategic approach is needed to win the venturing game.
Join us for an invitation-only event at the CME Group on November 7 as the Alliance hosts its inaugural corporate venturing event. Leading experts will share their insights on the role of corporate venturing as an enabler of innovation and growth. Our keynote speaker will share the “Castrol 2020” journey – defining the future of Castrol beyond lubricants and the critical role that corporate venturing is playing in advancing that future agenda.
You will also hear from a panel of seasoned corporate venturing experts, who will share insights and lessons learned, covering such topics as:
- Extending and protecting corporate strategy through venturing;
- Using corporate venturing as a capital-efficient mechanism for creating optionality;
- Aligning corporate venturing objectives with the strategy of the enterprise;
- Achieving strategic returns as well as financial returns; and
- Utilizing corporate venture capital as a tool for strategic innovation.
Take advantage of our unique peer-to-peer networking opportunities and discover how to initiate an effective corporate venturing program or optimize the role that corporate venturing plays in your corporation.
Seats are limited. Please register on or before November 3, 2014
AGENDA
ENABLING THE NEXT HORIZON:
Accelerating Innovation and Growth Through Corporate Venturing
About Our Sponsors
Clareo
Clareo is a Chicago-based innovation & strategy consulting firm dedicated to helping companies generate new ways to grow – within the core, as well as into adjacent and new businesses. Clareo works with with leading firms such as BP, Castrol, GE, Amway, Exelon, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, ITW, and SCA; and has helped fund and advise emerging new businesses such as ClearCare, Zaharoff, and Indiegogo. Clareo helps clients build foresight & insight, create a growth strategy & innovation portfolio, design new businesses, and organize for internal and external (outside-in) innovation. Clareo’s Corporate Entrepreneurship & Venturing practice area brings both advisory and operating experience in corporate venturing, venture capital, ecosystem partnering, innovation accelerators & other models. Clareo also maintains a strong partnership the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern) and leads the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN), a leading network of global innovators. Visit www.clareopartners.com.
Polsinelli
Polsinelli is a first generation Am Law 100 firm serving corporations, institutions, entrepreneurs and individuals nationally. Our attorneys successfully build enduring client relationships by providing practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and with a passion for assisting General Counsel and CEOs in achieving their objectives. Polsinelli is ranked 18th in number of U.S. partners and has more than 740 attorneys in 19 offices. Profiled by The American Lawyer and ranked as the fastest growing U.S. law firm over a six-year period, the firm focuses on healthcare, financial services, real estate, life sciences and technology, energy and business litigation, and has depth of experience in 100 service areas and 70 industries. The firm can be found online at www.polsinelli.com.
Midwest Research University Network
The Midwest Research University Network (MRUN) is a commercialization collaborative focused on fostering the formation and growth of high tech start-ups in the Midwest. MRUN members include individuals engaged in venture formation at universities and research institutions, investors, entrepreneurs and those who help them. All are either in, or interested in, the Midwest. The MRUN community helps members make connections informally to solve common problems in start-up business development including, angel and seed–stage financing, placement of management talent and opportunities for collaboration. MRUN is built around the idea that working together regionally in new business formation can accomplish more than working independently locally. For more information: http://www.mrun.us.
CME Group is the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, handling 3 billion contracts worth approximately $1 quadrillion annually (on average). The company provides a marketplace for buyers and sellers, bringing together individuals, companies and institutions that need to manage risk or that want to profit by accepting risk. Our exchanges -- CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX -- offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate. As part of our commitment to providing innovative risk-management solutions to the marketplace, CME Group also offers a growing slate of cleared OTC products and services. For more information: www.cmegroup.com.
Energy Foundry was established as part of the landmark Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act to catalyze energy entrepreneurship and commercialization alongside the statewide $3.2 billion smart grid market driver. Energy Foundry is a private impact venture capital fund, designed to have an evergreen model. Initial funding was provided by ComEd and Ameren for an umbrella fund for Energy Foundry and the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF). For more information: www.energyfoundry.com.
Riveron Consulting is a leading financial services firm and a trusted advisor to fast growth companies. In addition to due diligence, Riveron supports the development of innovative organizations with services including post acquisition integration, performance and process improvement, financial modeling and analysis, and purchase accounting and opening balance sheet assistance, among many others. Riveron Consulting’s senior-level professionals are committed to helping companies get the most value from every transaction — from acquisition to integration, operation, and divestiture. For more information: www.riveronconsulting.com.
Global Midwest Alliance is a business-led, region-wide, not-for-profit education organization dedicated to transforming the Midwest into an internationally recognized leader in innovation and business growth. The Alliance aligns and integrates resources throughout the Midwest helping businesses to grow by leveraging existing resources to develop new products and find customers throughout the world. The Alliance is the Private Sector Liaison Office for the World Bank and a member of Global CONNECT. Through these and other affiliations, the Alliance facilitates access to global business opportunities for Midwest business. The Alliance offers educational opportunities through a variety of programs and resources designed to promote innovation, technology development and access to global opportunities in the clean technology, energy, food, logistics, manufacturing and water industries.
The Private Sector Liaison Network of the World Bank Group is a group of 160 business intermediary organizations in 107 countries around the world working to foster trade and investment between countries with the support of the World Bank Group’s products and services. Private Sector Liaison Offices (PSLOs) facilitate companies’ access to World Bank Group business opportunities, services and knowledge, and act as the voice of the private sector in advising the World Bank Group on how to better engage companies on development issues.
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.
8:00 - 8:15 a.m.
8:15- 8:45 a.m.
8:45 - 9:30 a.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
11:15- 11:45 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
Registration, Networking and Qualified Introductions
Welcome and Program Overview
Gail Longmore, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Global Midwest Alliance
Introduction
Accelerating Innovation & Growth Through Corporate Venturing
Scott Bowman, Partner, Clareo Partners
Keynote Speaker
Enabling the Future of Castrol: The Castrol 2020 Journey
Roy Williamson, Managing Director, Castrol innoVentures
Corporate Venturing Leaders Panel Discussion
Connecting Venturing with Corporate Strategy: Insights and Lessons Learned
Moderator: Jason Blumberg, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Energy Foundry
Panelists:
Rahul Bhalodia, Principal and Head of Venture Capital Investment, Constellation Technology Ventures, Exelon Corporation
Kurt Estes, Director, Sikich (Former Co-Founder, Motorola Early Stage Accelerator; Member, Motorola Ventures)
Karen Kerr, Ph.D., Senior Managing Director, Advanced Manufacturing, GE Ventures
Dan Phillips, Vice President, Sandbox Industries; BCBS Ventures, Healthbox, Cultivian Ventures
Networking Break
Executive Trialogue: History . . . and Future of the CME Group
Moderator: Scott Bowman, Partner, Clareo Partners
Panelists:
David Wong, Senior Director, Innovation & Acceleration Lab, CME Group
Mark Fields, Marketing Director, Strategic Investment Group, CME Group
Closing Remarks, Program Wrap-Up and Optional Tour of CME Innovation Lab
