HP Labs & Ventures reposted this
Most VCs will quietly tell founders: "Don't take CVC money." Angelo Del Priore, Founding Managing Director of HP Tech Ventures, has heard that his whole career. And he disagrees. In the latest episode of the Alchemist Influencer Series, Angelo sits down with Ravi Belani, CEO and Founder of Alchemist Accelerator, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about Corporate Venture Capital, what it actually offers, where it falls short, and how the best founders use it to their advantage. Key highlights: ▶️ CVCs don't have LPs breathing down their neck. No 10-year fund clock means more flexibility on timing, exit strategy, and whether you go for the IPO or take the acquisition offer. ▶️ That Fortune 500 logo on your cap table does real work. When HP, Intel, or Samsung writes you a check, it signals to the market that you've cleared technical due diligence, enterprise readiness, and commercial viability. That's validation money can't always buy. ▶️ Board seats and control are off the table (usually). Most CVCs won't take a board seat. Founders keep more control. It's a quiet benefit that gets overlooked. ▶️ But here's the honest part: Angelo admits that most CVCs follow, they don't lead. Ravi pushes him on it. And together they lay out exactly what founders should do with that reality rather than fight it. If you're building a company and thinking about your Series A or B cap table, this one is worth 23 minutes of your time. Read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/epKFf75H 🎧 📺 Tune in 🔗 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e_vbWxwg Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e4GJjbMK Apple: https://lnkd.in/eZK_CQsW Amazon: https://lnkd.in/edyJAg8a