Investing in Startups with Hugo Bongers: Exploring Corporate Venture Capital and Unicorn Grooming Strategies

# The Wall Street Lab Podcast: The Head of ABN AMRO Ventures

In this episode of The Wall Street Lab Podcast, we interview Hugo Bongers, Head of ABN Amro Ventures, the 150 million Euro Corporate Venture Capital fund of Dutch Bank ABN Amro. The mission of ABN Amro Ventures is to make strategic investments in early-stage tech and fintech companies that are relevant for the bank. Hugo’s job is to scout for innovative companies, invest in them, and connect them with relevant stakeholders within the bank. With a background in acquisition finance and private equity, Hugo holds Masters degrees in law and economics from Utrecht University.

Listen in to learn about the Corporate Venture Capital arm of ABN Amro, how Hugo sources deals, his decision criteria on when to invest in startups, his value proposition to startup founders, and how he deals with internal and external stakeholders of the bank. Hugo also discusses the latest market developments, the recent rise in valuations, and career advice.

If you want to learn more about investment, finance, corporate venture capital, private equity, startups, and venture capital, this podcast is for you!

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Keywords/Tags: Investment, Investor, ABN Amro, Corporate VC, CVC, Finance, Investment Criteria, Private Equity, Startups, Unicorns, VC, Venture Capital, Wall Street, Podcast, Learn Finance

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Hugo Bongers is the Head of ABN Amro Ventures, the 150 million Euro Corporate Venture Capital fund of Dutch Bank ABN Amro. His mission is to make strategic investments in early-stage (series A and onwards) tech and fintech companies which are relevant for the bank. His job is to scout for innovative companies, invest in them, connect them with relevant stakeholders within the bank. Hugo is on the board of a lot of startups, like solarisbank, penta, crosslend, just to name a view. Hugo has a background in acquisition finance and private equity. Hugo holds Masters degrees in law and economics from Utrecht University.

In this episode we talk about the Corporate Venture Capital arm of ABN Amro. We talk about how Hugo sources his deals, his decision criteria on when to invest in startups. His value proposition to startup founders and how he deals with internal and external stakeholders of the bank. We go into the latest market developments, the recent rise in valuations even in early stages before hitting a positive cash flow. And of course, we give some interesting career advice.