At DCM, providing capital is just one of the services we offer our portfolio companies. We view an investment as the beginning of a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. We work side-by-side with portfolio companies, collaborating with exceptional management teams to build world-class companies.

FAQs

Following is a brief list of answers to the most common inquiries we receive from entrepreneurs. For questions that don’t appear on this list, please feel free to contact us directly. And please check back regularly, as we continue to update and expand this information.

Q: How does DCM add value after making an investment?

A: DCM’s partner team thrives on providing hands-on guidance to portfolio companies. This usually includes helping with recruiting the senior management team, facilitating business development deals, helping with subsequent financings and providing general guidance and counsel to the management team (often taking a seat on the Board of Directors). Our entrepreneurs and CEOs are our best references as to the value we add as early-stage venture investors.

Q: In what sectors does DCM invest?

A: We are an information technology venture capital firm investing in Business Software and Services, Cleantech, Consumer/Digital Media, Communications/Networking, Components, Security and Storage.

Q: At what stage does DCM invest?

A: We typically invest in the first institutional round of early-stage domestic technology companies, but we will also make select later-stage and international investments.

Q: Is DCM always the lead investor?

A: We are typically the lead investor, but we also syndicate, co-lead or co-invest based on a company’s needs.

Q: How much does DCM usually invest?

A: Although we have made investments as small as $500K in very early-stage companies, our usual initial investment size is $3 to $10 million; our total investment in any one company is generally up to $20 million.

Q: What technology industry experience does the DCM team have?

A: Each one of our investing partners brings senior operational experience from a range of the most successful companies in technology — including Apple, Arrow Electronics, F5 Networks, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intuit, KLA-Tencor, NetFrame and Sina.com, to name a few.

Q: What is the best way to submit a business idea to DCM?

A: Most deals are referred to us through our extensive network of industry contacts including technology professionals, entrepreneurs, limited partners and strategic partners; business plans can also be forwarded to businessplan@dcm.com.

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