[March 12, 2024] Announcement of First FIRST CVC Workshop

The FIRST CVC will host the FIRST CVC Workshop starting in 2024, aimed at deepening the expertise of CVC investment professionals.

From March to June this year, we will hold a total of six sessions of the "FIRST CVC Workshop." The instructor will be Mr. Nakagaki, formerly of DNX, and after the workshop, there will be a networking session. The first session's theme will be "The Significance and Role of CVC." If you are interested, please feel free to participate.

‍

Target Audience

・Over 250 companies and more than 400 participants involved with FIRST CVC are eligible to attend.

‍

Instructor Introduction

Toru Nakagaki

Joined Japan Asia Investment (JAIC) in 1996. In 2011, he established the North American network fund DFJ JAIC Ventures (now known as dnx Ventures) in partnership with the leading venture capital firm DFJ. He served as General Partner until Series Fund 3, which collectively raised around 60 billion yen. At dnx, in addition to investment activities, he supports open innovation efforts for corporate investors, primarily large enterprises. To date, 12 of his portfolio companies have gone public, and 6 have been acquired by major companies. He currently serves as an outside director for four companies, including SHIFT, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market. He graduated from Waseda University’s Faculty of Law and completed the Kauffman Fellows Program, a venture capital training program in the United States. He is also a co-author of "The Principles of Action for Accelerating Corporate Evolution: Startups × Traditional Enterprises."

‍

Message from the Instructor

In recent years, companies ranging from traditional enterprises to startups have been launching Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) initiatives. Globally, the proportion of CVC and corporate investments in venture capital amounts and deals continues to increase. Many companies in Europe and the U.S. have integrated CVC as a key function to drive Corporate Development and Open Innovation, maintaining and enhancing their competitiveness. On the other hand, while CVC activities have started in Japanese companies, few have been able to achieve both financial and strategic returns. This CVC workshop aims not only to understand the basics of venture capital but also to enable participants to function effectively as CVCs, both financially and strategically. For this reason, we recommend that participants have some prior knowledge or experience with basic VC operations. We aim to not just enhance participants' knowledge, but also foster a community where attendees can share their challenges and experiences, learning from one another.

‍

Workshop Themes

The theme for the first session will be "The Significance and Role of CVC."
The workshop will cover the following agenda related to the objectives and unique investment strategies of CVC:

 - CVC as a key function in open innovation
- The objectives of CVC
- Investment strategies
- The relationship between the CVC team and internal teams

‍

Event Overview

・Schedule

16:30　Registration Opens
17:00　Workshop Begins
18:30　Workshop Ends
18:30　Networking Session
19:30　Closing

Expected Participants: Approximately 30 people
Participation Fee: Free
Location: QWS PARK, Shibuya Scramble Square, 15th Floor

‍

 How to Participate

Please register via the URL below:
https://share.hsforms.com/1D3hGNYzWRV6bWm8yZT8bsQq9l2a

‍

※Important Notes

・If the number of applications exceeds the limit, a lottery will be held, and the results will be announced on 2/27 (Tuesday).
・The application deadline is【February 26, 2024 (Monday)】, so please make sure to apply early.

‍