Apple Computer Strategic Investment Group

This case describes the corporate venture capital program that Apple Computers ran from 1986 to 1991. It examines the strategic motives of Apple Computers to finance entrepreneurial companies and discusses the guiding principles of the so-called “Strategic Investment Group.” It analyzes how this corporate venture capital arm was structured internally, how it established relationships with mainstream Silicon Valley venture capitalists, how it tried to manage relationships with managers within Apple Computers, and how it interacted with entrepreneurs. The case also discusses in what ways Apple Computers’ corporate venture capital approach was different from other corporate venture capital. In particular, it discusses how Apple Computers made trade-offs between financial and strategic objectives. This case is available for purchase from ECCH.