Episode 138: Gina Domanig - Emerald Tech Venture's Pioneering CVC Path: Venturing into Sustainability

Gaule's Question Time

In this insightful conversation, Andrew Gaule (www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gaule-6a7120), a seasoned corporate venturing expert, sits down with Gina Domanig (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-domanig/), the co-founder of Emerald Tech Ventures, a trailblazing venture capital firm dedicated to climate tech and industrial solutions. Emerald has been at the forefront of this space for nearly 25 years, investing in early-stage companies that are addressing sustainability challenges and driving innovation in sectors like energy, water, materials, and more. More details and outline below.
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Gina shares the genesis of Emerald, born from her hypothesis that sustainability trends would profoundly impact industrial sectors, creating new opportunities and challenges. Today, with over $700 million in active funds and mandates, Emerald's unique model involves partnering with over 50 industrial corporations as limited partners, aligning their strategic interests with financial returns.
The conversation delves into the intricate dynamics of corporate venturing, exploring the purpose, process, people, and performance metrics that shape this ecosystem. Gina offers invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of deal flow, due diligence, syndication, and the critical role of building strong relationships with partners, including other funds, research institutions, and investment banks.
Here are 5 key topics from the podcast interview:
Purpose and Strategic Objectives of Corporate Venturing

• Open innovation for corporates to find sustainability solutions
• Identify early adopters, partners, and potential acquisitions in sustainable tech
• Balance financial returns with strategic impacts

Venture Fund Process and Deal Dynamics

• Long sales cycle to onboard corporate limited partners
• Deal sourcing from direct pitches, networks, and proactive scouting
• Thorough due diligence on technology, market, and value-add potential
• Co-investing and syndication with other funds and corporates

People, Relationships, and Governance

• Importance of strong relationships with corporate business units
• Understanding fiduciary duties and potential liabilities as board members
• Preference for observer roles over full board seats
• Clear provisions for voting responsibilities and potential conflicts

Ecosystem Collaboration and Partnerships

• Co-investing and syndicating deals with other funds
• Relationships with research institutions for early-stage deal flow
• Improving ties with investment banks for better exit planning

Performance Measurement and Cultural Impact

• Focus on measurable impacts on core business, not just investment counts
• Metrics like commercial arrangements, pilots, acquisitions
• Internal communication and showcasing relevant startups
• Driving cultural change by exposing organization to external realities

To book a meeting to discuss entrepreneurship, AI and other business change with Andrew - https://calendly.com/andrew-gaule/30min?