In this CEO Corner interview we explore two very interesting principles which are often more closely related than people often think. In this conversation with Axel Tillmann, CEO of Russian Venture Company-USA, we explore RVC-USA as a potential investment partner and also talk about Russia as a growth opportunity for an organization. RVC helps companies that are looking to expand into Russia and leverage Russia’s assets – engineers / capabilities / etc. – and also looks at potential investments into companies that would consider an investment from a group such as theirs.
What is interesting to me to explore here is that concept of choosing your investment partner. So often people will say, “I want to make sure to take smart money” and “I need an investor who is more than just an investor but also a partner.” But when it comes down to it, it is unclear how to evaluate different investment partners to see which the best fit for an organization is. Yet – as we have seen time and time again – choosing the right investment partner is sometimes the most critical decision a CEO can make.
In RVC – the blending of a strong advisory team, an investment vehicle, and the opportunity for expansion into/partnership with a group from Russia provides a unique opportunity for a CEO. We explore misconceptions about Russia that many people still have and Axel describes well the opportunities that exist and the entrepreneurship and skillset that can be tapped into in Russia. He also discusses how even a small company that may consider themselves not large enough to think about an RVC could find significant benefit in doing so.
My take-aways:
- Map out a decision model in thinking about the investment partner that works for your organization
- Think about not only the tangible but the intangible benefits of a potential partner
- Look for potential outside-the-box partners
- Pursue both traditional and non-traditional opportunities to partner
- Consider all options before making any decision
