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Our
Strategy
Crucible's mission is to help Irish entrepreneurs
develop their innovative business concepts into successful transatlantic
business operations. This mission drives everything that we do -
from how we organise our company to our investment strategy.
As an early stage investor Crucible's ultimate success is measured
in the achievements of its investments. Crucible believes that selecting
the right companies and providing them with the right support is
key to building a successful portfolio.
Crucible only invests in companies with patentable technology or
who can build long term technical barriers to entry and who are
primarily targeting the US market. This focus ensures discipline
in Crucibles investment process and reduces the temptation of investing
in the latest fashions.
Just picking the right companies does not always guarantee success.
Crucible believes that early stage companies require considerable
handholding and guidance in order to deliver on their potential.
When Crucible makes an investment it puts its entire team and advisory
network behind the investment to help build the company and commercialise
the technology in the US.
Crucible believes that Smart money is the key to successful investing.
Crucible will only invest in companies that meet its investment
criteria and where we can bring the strengths of our team to bear.
What
We Do
As a "Smart Money" investor Crucible
offers its investments more than just capital. When Crucible makes
an investment it also mobilises it's management team and advisory
network to deliver:
Seed
Capital
Crucible will typically invest up to $1.5 million in a seed,
start-up or early stage opportunity. Crucible will also take an
active role in helping the investment secure follow-on financing
as the company develops.
Management
Guidance and Direction
Crucible's
management team is comprised of leading professionals with proven
international experience in the information technology sector.
This team is uniquely poised to both understand and anticipate
the unforeseen obstacles that can plague a start-up enterprise.
The team operates with a hands-on policy and is easily accessible
to all our investments. We firmly believe that this dedicated
guidance will significantly reduce the time required for a portfolio
company to become self-sufficient.
Typically
the team helps with
Commercialisation
Crucible
believes that commercialisation is key to any successful investment.
In many cases, early stage companies leave their commercialisation
strategy too late in their development curve.
While
the investment's management team focuses on building their business,
the Crucible Commercialisation Team will work to help build market
awareness and a US presence along with:
Sourcing of initial customers and/or partners
Providing
market intelligence
Assisting
with recruitment
Advisory
Board
We
have assembled a team of thought leaders, industry achievers,
market watchers, and industry analysts to help coach and guide
our investments from concept to market entry. Where appropriate,
Advisory Board members will take non-executive positions on the
boards of portfolio companies.
The
primary purpose of the Advisory Board is to provide access to
personal networks and seasoned experience in order to rapidly
grow start-up companies. The advisory board members are rewarded
based on their personal contribution to the investments success.
Who
We Are
Crucible
has put together a world-class Board
of Directors and Management
Team which is made up of proven industry professionals
who have international experience of the technology sector and understand
what is involved in building a company from the ground up, developing
innovative commercial products, engineering scalable technologies
and generating international revenues.
Board of Directors
Don Caldwell is currently Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Co-Founder of Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Inc. ("XACP").
XACP is the General Partner and manager of two venture funds with
$300 million in assets under management. The first fund is Cross
Atlantic Technology Fund with an objective to provide much needed
venture capital to early to mid-state IT companies in the United
States, Ireland and the UK. The second fund is The Co-Investment
2000 Fund with an objective to harvest co-investment opportunities
from a selected portfolio of venture funds. Don was formerly President
and Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE)
and Chairman of its Investment Committee. During his tenure, Don
led the formation of two Safeguard-related venture capital funds
- SCP Private Equity Partners and PA Early Stage Partners - and
oversaw 22 investments that have yielded a composite IRR of 69%.
Prior to joining Safeguard, Don held a number of executive and financial
positions, including chief administrative officer of a predecessor
company of Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc. and partner in the
national office of Arthur Young & Co., a predecessor to Ernst &
Young, LLP.
Glenn Rieger is President and Co-Founder of Cross Atlantic
Capital Partners, Inc. ("XACP"). XACP is the General Partner and
manager of two venture funds with $300 million in assets under management.
The first fund is Cross Atlantic Technology Fund with an objective
to provide much needed venture capital to early to mid-state IT
companies in the United States, Ireland and the UK. The second fund
is The Co-Investment 2000 Fund with an objective to harvest co-investment
opportunities from a selected portfolio of venture funds. He was
formerly Senior Vice President in charge of business development
for Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE:SFE). In this position, he
developed and oversaw merger, acquisition and investment opportunities
for Safeguard, after having joined the firm in 1994 as a Vice President.
In addition, he served as a business partner and Director for five
of Safeguard's partnership companies. Prior to joining Safeguard,
Glenn had been a managing director of a boutique investment banking
firm specializing in merger and acquisition activity and CEO of
a California savings bank.
Gerry McCrory co-founded The Crucible Corporation, an early-stage
venture capital fund headquartered in Dublin and the Cross Atlantic
Technology Fund, an expansion-stage venture capital fund headquartered
in Philadelphia. Gerry currently serves as managing director of
the Cross Atlantic Technology Fund in Dublin. Prior to founding
Crucible, Gerry was the Managing Director of Cambridge Technology
Partners (Ireland); started his own software services company, The
Information Mosaic; and held various senior commercial responsibilities
at Cap Gemini-Hoskyns in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States.
David Graves is the founder of Centara, he is a professional
engineer and has managed several high technology companies during
his career. He has held senior positions with Hughes Aircraft of
Canada Ltd., Novatel Communications Inc. and Northern Telecom. Prior
to starting Centara, David was the founding President and CEO of
Broadband Networks Inc. (BNI) which rose to a leading position in
North America as a wireless telecommunications systems supplier.
One of Canada's most successful high technology start-ups, BNI was
sold to Northern Telecom in January 1998.
Paul Coulson FCA qualified with Price Waterhouse in 1976,
founded Yeoman International Group Limited in 1982 and remains Chief
Executive to date. He is Chairman of Ardagh plc and a director of
other companies.
Bill
McCabe is the former Chairman of SmartForce plc (Nasdaq: SMTF)
an Irish company specialising in interactive educational software.
He is also a Non-Executive Director of Parthus plc (Nasdaq: PRTH)
an Irish company developing and licensing complete silicon and software
Intellectual Property (IP) platforms. He holds a degree in Economics
from Queens University, Belfast.
Management
Team
Gerry
McCrory co-founded The Crucible Corporation, an early-stage
venture capital fund headquartered in Dublin and the Cross Atlantic
Technology Fund, an expansion-stage venture capital fund headquartered
in Philadelphia. Gerry currently serves as managing director of
the Cross Atlantic Technology Fund in Dublin. Prior to founding
Crucible, Gerry was the Managing Director of Cambridge Technology
Partners (Ireland); started his own software services company, The
Information Mosaic; and held various senior commercial responsibilities
at Cap Gemini-Hoskyns in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States.
Paul
Sutton has more than 15 years experience in the IT industry.
During this time Paul has performed a range of roles, predominately
in sales, marketing and business development. More recently, Paul
established a technology fund and high tech incubation company for
a private investor based in London City. Prior to that, Paul held
executive positions in Cap Gemini, Hoskyns Insight, and Olympic
Group.
Kevin
Magee has more than 13 years experience in the IT industry.
During his tenure as Director of Software Engineering at Smartforce
plc (Nasdaq: SMTF), Kevin grew the technology group tenfold in less
than four years. He left Smartforce to found Wishful Thinking Ltd,
a technology consulting service to investment companies and technology
start-ups. Prior to Smartforce, Kevin worked as a freelance consultant
in the UK and USA, acted as a technical consultant for Cap Gemini
in Ireland and co-founded Lectus Technologies (a multi-media software
company).
Andrew Shubotham has been working as an analyst for Crucible
since January 2000, having previously worked with Cross Atlantic
Capital Partners for 2 years as a research analyst. He is currently
studying for a Degree in Marketing at the Institute of Technology
in Tallaght. Prior to joining Cross Atlantic Capital Partners he
worked in Microsoft.
Partners
Crucible's partner network significantly increases the resources
available to our investments. These partners provide either second
round funding, channels to market or access to customers. Access
to US based networks is key to the successful development and commercialisation
of Crucible's investments.
Crucible has partnered with Cross Atlantic Capital Partners (XACP),
a transatlantic venture capital firm with offices in Philadelphia,
Dublin, and London to assist in securing second round funding for
its investments.
Crucible has also partnered with Centara Corporation, a private
Canadian venture capital company dedicated to the successful growth
and development of technology-focused businesses. Centara invests
in young, vibrant companies requiring the capital to expand, and
having the long-term vision to succeed.
Contact
details
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Establishing the strategic direction, defined goals and setting
measurable milestones by which to measure performance.