Fred Hoch: From Theater to Strategy | Episode 41

Nothing Ventured

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah interviews Fred Hoch, co-founder of TechNexus, a Chicago-based venture collaborative. They delve into topics such as building communities, driving the evolution of software as a service, corporate innovation, the role of CFOs in championing innovation, the state of venture capital, and the opportunities ventures present for large corporations. Tune in to gain insights from Fred's 30 years of experience in the tech industry and his success in orchestrating investments for major corporations. 🕒 Time stamps: 02:06 - Evolution of Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
03:38 - Investing Beyond the Check
04:49 - Different Models of Corporate Venture
06:10 - Scouting for Disruptive Technologies
08:12 - Challenges with Large Bets in CVC
09:52 - Educating CFOs and Boards on Innovation
12:24 - Issues with Traditional Venture Capital Models
14:47 - Shift Towards R&D Heavy Projects
16:24 - External R&D and Corporate Flexibility
18:02 - Equity Compensation vs. Cash
19:03 - Employee Mindset and Corporate Innovation
20:27 - Realistic Expectations in Venture Capital
22:30 - Ventures as Opportunities, Not Threats
24:52 - Example: Electrification in Recreational Boating
26:41 - Role of TechNexus as an Agitator
28:19 - Broad Investment Strategy
30:08 - Small Bets and Entrepreneurial Army
31:03 - Hunting for Talent and Product Evolution
31:35 - Contrarian Convictions in Today's World
33:36 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information