The venture capital model has hardly evolved since the 13th century when Marco Polo first convinced a group of wealthy Venetians to underwrite his travels to Asia in exchange for a share of the riches he might discover. Today, a fund manager supports and cultivates an entrepreneur’s good idea by providing financing in exchange for a share in their business – with the hope for a return on their efforts. But after years of stalled performance, that model is due for a shakeup BDC Capital is among a small number of institutions leading the effort to modernize the model. We refer to this new approach as catalyst partner financing. It’s essentially a hybrid of an incubator and a traditional venture capital fund.
To read the original article: Why venture capital needs new leadership - The Globe and Mail
