Scanning the horizon
Unilever Technology Ventures brings new technology to the heart of Unilever
Scouting out early-stage technology
The tremendous growth in contribution from small companies and start-ups to new technology development is changing the world of science and technology. Unilever Technology Ventures (UTV) is one way in which Unilever taps into that trend, and is a key plank in our strategy of increasingly open innovation.
UTV investigates innovative technology opportunities from start-up and small enterprises to assist Unilever in pursuing our mission to help people look good, feel good and get more out of life.
Based in California, we are currently relocating to San Francisco, the heart of the venture capital high-tech industry.
An ideal mix of experience
The UTV Team includes two Managing Directors – Dion Madsen, an experienced Venture Capital investor and Phil Giesler, an executive with over 20 years of experience in Unilever R&D in different product categories – and two principals, Michael Lee and Min Berbon, with backgrounds in biology and material sciences.
UTV connects strongly with Unilever’s R&D groups by hosting six-month secondments for Unilever R&D scientists. These secondments focus on scouting key, new technology areas of strong interest to Unilever’s new business growth.
Our task at UTV is to access and nurture those technologies that may enhance the scope and quality of the branded goods and services of Unilever, its parent company. We do this either by investing in the businesses to help them generate the funds necessary for growth and technology development or by simply facilitating contacts to interested parties in Unilever R&D.
A professionally managed, well-respected venture fund
UTV looks for investment opportunities that offer both the potential for strong financial returns and strong support for Unilever’s open innovation initiative. UTV is a well-respected venture fund that seeks to be the preferred partner for innovative companies by providing specialised expertise in our areas of interest.
UTV’s chief interests lie in life science, materials science and technologies that enable Unilever to service consumer needs better. It has invested in other venture capital funds and start-up companies in the area of life science and a materials science, for example: personalised medicine, systems biology, radio frequency identification, plant science and water purification.
