Introduction
IBM Venture Capital Group
Our goal is to build strategic relationships with venture capital firms and their portfolio companies to create:
- An ecosystem that fosters innovation
- Exciting new technologies and customer solutions
- New growth opportunities in new markets
Spotlight on IBM SmartCamp
SmartCamp is an exclusive global program bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and experienced mentors who want to build a Smarter Planet. SmartCamp provides access to world-class advisors plus a direct route to seed and venture capital.
In 2010 and 2011, IBM held seventeen SmartCamp events around the world. In each location, five finalists were selected for a one to two day event to network with 25 world-class entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. These mentoring and networking events put entrepreneurs in touch with experts that can help accelerate their business. In February of 2012, IBM held its second SmartCamp Final and named Profitero (link resides outside of ibm.com) as the IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year for 2011.
Winner: Congratulations Profitero! (link resides outside of ibm.com) Profitero is a next-generation pricing intelligence service for retailers and manufacturers. The company helps clients to increases sales and maximizes profits by leveraging high-quality online competitive data at scale. This allows businesses to react quickly to changes in their competitors' prices. Some of the world’s biggest retailers already use Profitero pricing data.
In the news
February 14, 2012
IBM's startup guy: We're cracking new markets
A physicist by training, Clark joined IBM 30 years ago as a programmer, just as IBM began to develop its software business in earnest. He eventually moved to marketing and brand management, serving as IBM's "search czar," and at the height of the dot-com boom, co-founded IBM's Venture Capital Group -- which, interestingly, has no fund. Instead, IBM works with VCs to take promising startups to market and increase the odds of their success.
Events
Feb 25, 2012
USF China Innovation and Sustainability Conference
This China Innovation Conference will seek to explore current developments in innovation policy in China and their application in the field of sustainable development. The aim of the conference is not only to understand developments within China, but to also encourage a mutual learning process for the community at large.
