Latest news with #PegasusTechVentures
Forbes
04-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
From Passive LP To Strategic Partner: How Corporations Can Leverage The Venture-Capital-As-A-Service Model
Anis Uzzaman (アニス・ウッザマン ) is the General Partner and CEO at Pegasus Tech Ventures | Chairman of Startup World Cup For years, the default way for corporations to gain exposure to the startup ecosystem was through passive limited partner (LP) positions in traditional venture capital funds. While this approach provides an opportunity to invest in startups, it offers little control, limited visibility and almost no direct strategic engagement. Today, as innovation becomes a strategic imperative, corporations are demanding more than financial returns. They want access to cutting-edge technologies, new customers and unique business models—all of which disruptive startups can provide. Perhaps more than anything, corporations want a strong voice in shaping where and how their capital is deployed, without any operational headaches. There's little doubt that innovation is critical for corporate success, yet it is hard to achieve. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports: 'Startups have more incentive than incumbent firms to engage in potentially disruptive [research and development] Why Venture Capital As A Service Is Relevant This is where venture capital as a service (VCaaS) enters the picture. The unique design of the VCaaS model can help corporations move from passive investors to becoming active, strategic participants in the venture capital (VC) ecosystem—without the cost, complexity or time of launching their own in-house corporate venture capital organizations. These factors make VCaaS especially relevant in today's environment. The Benefits Of VCaaS To Corporations In my experience as a corporate executive, founder and investor, I've seen corporations use VCaaS to create investment opportunities based on their business priorities. For example, a corporation might value artificial intelligence, sustainability, healthcare, education, healthcare technology or robotics. VCaaS allows them to tailor their investments based on such priorities. VCaaS also offers corporations the following opportunities: With VCaaS, corporations can receive curated deal flow tailored to their strategic interests. This helps them align their investments with company priorities and move the corporation's strategy forward. They have the ability to invest only in those startups that match their business interests. Companies can participate in due diligence and make investment decisions while relying on seasoned VC professionals for execution. Corporations can receive innovative startup investment opportunities in sync with a company's strategic and financial interests. Both the VC and the corporation will conduct due diligence before corporate executives make final investment decisions, and corporate executives get to make final decisions. Their VC partner will ensure the transaction is executed smoothly. Corporations can engage directly with portfolio companies for partnerships, pilots and technology collaboration. Because invested startups are selected carefully, they are predetermined to be a good fit with the corporation's priorities. This strategic alignment helps the company move its own interests forward through startup partnerships. With VCaaS, organizations can avoid building an internal investment infrastructure while still reaping the innovation benefits of startup engagement. Rather than trying to form a VC organization and hire investment professionals—which is expensive and challenging—VCaaS allows corporations to rely on their VC partner to build this infrastructure. I have seen several corporate VC organizations modifying or ceasing their activities in recent years. This is likely due to a lack of connection between a corporation's strategy and that of its investment arm, not being able to hire the right talent, the challenge of finding innovative startups and inherent VC risks. The VCaaS model is especially powerful because it helps R&D leaders tap into emerging technologies. Corporate strategy teams can explore disruptive markets, which can be difficult without startup engagement and investment. Merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities often emerge from startup investing, enabling corporations to build a long-term pipeline of M&A opportunities. VC firms, including my own, pioneered the VCaaS approach with corporate partners from around the globe. With this model, these corporations are positioned to benefit from investing in startups, yet they do not have the trouble and expense of setting up an investment organization. Finally, VCaaS has the potential to increase profits because corporations using this model often gain speed, insight and optionality. They can engage directly with startups when there's a strategic fit and step back when the situation is purely financial. By partnering with an experienced VC, corporations are better positioned to secure access to strong deal flow and ongoing learning opportunities. Considerations For The VCaaS Model As you might expect, the venture-capital-as-a-service model—like all VC models—has its pros and cons to consider. It's become more popular in recent years because it can be an efficient way for corporations to invest in the best startups around the globe. But one concern that might arise is that VCaaS involves relying significantly on an outside resource, so the corporation itself might not develop those capabilities internally. As a safeguard, I recommend that companies select a VC firm that has a good trade-off of support and internal development. It is important that incentives are arranged so that VCaaS providers do not focus on financial returns only, while ignoring the corporation's long-term goals of innovation. The key here is to obtain just the right balance of priorities. Another challenge is what corporations face in terms of having a high level of control over investments that are strategic or those who want very confidential startup collaborations. VCaaS is an external function, so even though it can work well, corporations should consider whether it will develop an internal innovation culture. Succeeding means that corporations should conduct thorough due diligence: taking a look at the VCaaS firm's transparency, flexibility, strategic alignment and its track record over time. In developing a corporate-VCaaS collaboration, it is crucial to consider governance structures, exit strategies and easy-to-understand key performance metrics. Overall, corporations that want to become more innovative should consider if VCaaS enhances their broader innovation strategy and if the model is likely to be successful. Empowering Corporations To Grow And Succeed In today's competitive business environment—an era where being reactive is no longer an option—VCaaS can empower corporations to act decisively, bridging the gap between financial capital and startup collaboration. I anticipate this trend will continue to let corporations achieve their financial and innovative goals while providing startups with the critical capital they need to scale. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 18, 2025-- Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: [email protected] Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow: View source version on CONTACT: Janice Mok Senior Marketing Manager Email:[email protected] Phone: +1 (408) 645-5532 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE START-UP ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTREPRENEUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Pegasus Tech Ventures Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/18/2025 07:00 PM/DISC: 06/18/2025 06:58 PM
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Share Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: info@ Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow:
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vocxi Health Wins 2025 Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional Competition
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, one of the biggest and richest startup pitch competitions in the world, successfully hosted its highly anticipated flagship Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional competition on May 1, 2025. Out of the Top 15 finalists, Vocxi Health, which is a breakthrough breath-based diagnostic platform that detects diseases like cancer, infections, and injuries in under a minute—anywhere, anytime, became the champion. This achievement paves the way for their participation in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale to be held in San Francisco on October 17, 2025 for an opportunity to win a $1,000,000 investment prize. The event was organized and by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. A panel of independent venture capital investors from Kholsa Ventures, Samsung Ventures, First Round, Lightspeed, Engineering Capital, and more judged the pitches of the finalists and ultimately awarded Vocxi Health as the winner. "We are delighted by the quality and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs who were competing, and the energy was amazing," said Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures, who created the Startup World Cup competition in 2016. "Each year we are impressed by the quality of startups who apply and present. I look forward to seeing Vocxi Health on the Grand Finale stage." With more speakers to come, Mark Papermaster (CTO of AMD), Charly Kevers (CFO of Carta), Camilla Matias (COO of Brex), Ben Kus (CTO of Box), and more are already confirmed to speak at the Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco. ( Event Details: Startup World Cup 2025 Grand FinaleOctober 17, 2025San Francisco Hilton Union Square Grand Finale Tickets: Check out the Grand Finale video highlights here. About Startup World Cup Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition with the goal of bridging startup ecosystems worldwide. The competition gives startup companies from all over the world a chance to win a US $1,000,000 prize in the form of an investment. This year, there will be 100+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, leading up to the Grand Finale in San Francisco in September. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. About Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale: The Startup World Cup Grand Finale will take place in San Francisco, October 17, 2025. Past Startup World Cup Grand Finale events featured prominent figures from the high-tech community, including Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple), Reid Hoffman (Founding CEO of LinkedIn), Vinod Khosla (Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems), Adam Cheyer (Co-Founder of Siri), Marc Randolph (Co-Founder of Netflix), and John Chambers (Former CEO of Cisco). The Grand Finale judging panels have included prominent investors from Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed, NEA, Intel Capital, DFJ, Social Capital, and Index Ventures. View source version on Contacts Janice MokSenior Marketing ManagerEmail: janice@ Phone: +1 (408) 645-5532
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Vocxi Health Wins 2025 Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional Competition
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, one of the biggest and richest startup pitch competitions in the world, successfully hosted its highly anticipated flagship Startup World Cup Silicon Valley Regional competition on May 1, 2025. Out of the Top 15 finalists, Vocxi Health, which is a breakthrough breath-based diagnostic platform that detects diseases like cancer, infections, and injuries in under a minute—anywhere, anytime, became the champion. This achievement paves the way for their participation in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale to be held in San Francisco on October 17, 2025 for an opportunity to win a $1,000,000 investment prize. The event was organized and by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. A panel of independent venture capital investors from Kholsa Ventures, Samsung Ventures, First Round, Lightspeed, Engineering Capital, and more judged the pitches of the finalists and ultimately awarded Vocxi Health as the winner. "We are delighted by the quality and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs who were competing, and the energy was amazing," said Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Tech Ventures, who created the Startup World Cup competition in 2016. "Each year we are impressed by the quality of startups who apply and present. I look forward to seeing Vocxi Health on the Grand Finale stage." With more speakers to come, Mark Papermaster (CTO of AMD), Charly Kevers (CFO of Carta), Camilla Matias (COO of Brex), Ben Kus (CTO of Box), and more are already confirmed to speak at the Grand Finale on October 17 th, 2025 in San Francisco. ( Event Details: Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale October 17, 2025 San Francisco Hilton Union Square Grand Finale Tickets: Check out the Grand Finale video highlights here. About Startup World Cup Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition with the goal of bridging startup ecosystems worldwide. The competition gives startup companies from all over the world a chance to win a US $1,000,000 prize in the form of an investment. This year, there will be 100+ regional events across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, leading up to the Grand Finale in San Francisco in September. Startup World Cup is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm. About Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale: The Startup World Cup Grand Finale will take place in San Francisco, October 17, 2025. Past Startup World Cup Grand Finale events featured prominent figures from the high-tech community, including Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple), Reid Hoffman (Founding CEO of LinkedIn), Vinod Khosla (Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems), Adam Cheyer (Co-Founder of Siri), Marc Randolph (Co-Founder of Netflix), and John Chambers (Former CEO of Cisco). The Grand Finale judging panels have included prominent investors from Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed, NEA, Intel Capital, DFJ, Social Capital, and Index Ventures.
