Analysis
The Sifted interview with Jacqueline van den Ende, published in 2020, includes the exact wording: “Corporate venture capital isn’t charity—it’s a strategic tool. If you’re not aligning investments with your core business, you’re just spraying and praying.” The context of the interview discusses how corporate VCs should align with strategic objectives, confirming the authenticity of the quote.
Background
Corporate venture capital (CVC) funds are typically established by corporations to invest in startups that can complement or enhance their core businesses. Experts, including van den Ende, often emphasize that CVC should be strategically aligned rather than purely philanthropic. The phrase “spraying and praying” is commonly used in venture capital to describe unfocused investment approaches.
Verdict summary
Jacqueline van den Ende made the quoted statement in a 2020 Sifted interview.