Opportunity Assessment
The purpose of the Opportunity Assessment is to determine whether a Corporate
Venture Capital (CVC) program represents a viable and sustainable option
for a firm to acquire competitive advantage-conferring capabilities.
Working closely with a small group of internal stakeholders, Synchrony guides the process of identifying the scope and scale of a firm’s potential CVC program – the size of the playing field with respect to relevant technologies and emerging markets.
The Opportunity Assessment produces a concise analysis of the opportunity for the client to benefit by a CVC program, suitable for presentation to C-level executives and the Board of Directors. This analysis includes a go/no-go recommendation, fully supported by relevant data and thoughtful discussion of the most significant elements which the firm should consider in creating a going-forward strategy.
Because the Opportunity Analysis does not assume that the firm will decide to proceed with a program, emphasis is placed on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. If the Opportunity Assessment indicates that a CVC program is viable, deeper analysis takes place in the Strategy Development phase.
Elements of the deliverable are:
- Characterization and high-level analysis of the early-stage technology market as it applies to the client’s strategic situation
- Identification of relevant technology areas which would be appropriate for a program
- A survey of external innovation activity in target spaces to:
- Determine its scale and scope
- Characterize potential sources of dealflow
- Description of relevant technology trends and which are most likely to be driven by external innovation
- A survey of the innovation ecosystem activities of competitors and other value-chain partipants
Decision-point: go/no-go on developing a corporate venture
capital program