Jos Peeters is the founder and CEO of Capricorn Ventures.

1. Capricorn Venture Partners
Dr. Jos B. Peeters
Founder & Managing Partner
Capricorn Venture Partners
Leuven – 30 October 2013

2. The Capricorn in me
There is less competition at
the edge
Risks focusses the mind
More visibility from the top
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3. My Previous Lifes
• K.U. - Leuven - Research Assistant – Experimental solid
state physics
• Bell Telephone Manufacturing Cy - Process engineer
advanced technologies
• Belgian Integrated Products - Technical Manager
• P.A. - Technology - Senior Consultant Applied Sciences
• BeneVent Management - Managing Director
• Independant
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4. Entrepreneurship
“The pursuit of opportunity beyond
the resources which one controls”
Prof. Howard Stevenson
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5. Entrepreneurs versus Managers
• Where is the opportunity?
• What resources do I control?
• How do I capitalise on it?
• What structure determines our organisation’s relationship
to its market?
• What resources do I need?
• How can I minimise the impact of others on my ability to
perform?
• How do I gain control over them?
• What opportunity is appropriate?
Prof. Howard Stevenson
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6. Everybody said it could not be done,
Until two fouls, who didn’t know,
Made it happen
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7. Definition of Venture Capital
• Provides equity capital at its own risk
• Seeks medium term capital gains
• In Partnership with the Entrepreneurs
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8. A history of building companies
From early development
Mature technology
Production
Idea
Laborato
ry
Tea
m
Commercial products
Produ
ct
IP
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To global leadership
Exit prospects
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Market traction

9. Fall 1992 – all options open
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10. First Capricorn Office
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11. My start-ups
• Capricorn Venture Partners – Venture capital
• Quest for Growth – Quest Management – asset
management – merged into Capricorn Venture Partners
• Quartz Capital Partners – Investment banking – sold to
Knight Trimark
• Easdaq – stock market – turned into Equiduct Systems
• Polytechnos Partners – venture capital Munich – sold to
partners
• NW Brown Capital Partners – venture capital Cambridge
– sold to partners
• IPES – fund administration – sold in a management buyout
• De Jonge St. Jacob – De Hopbloem – business center
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12. 2 Feet of snow, but don’t let this stop you..
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13. Anticipate the cycles
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14. Don’t be shy to speak your mind
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15. Fortunate timing helps
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16. Don’t be afraid from the big guys, they are slow
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17. Don’t panick; go for the long term benefit
The man are
concerned about
their stock options
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18. Try not to forget to enjoy live
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19. Capricorn Venture Partners
ICT
€ 15 million
CLEANTECH
€ 112 million
HEALTHTECH
€ 42 million
Quest for Growth
€ 115.8 million*
* September 31, 2013
Quest Cleantech Fund
€ 13.2 million*
* September 31, 2013
Head office, Leuven, Belgium
Partners-owned
20 people organisation, 20 years existence
Licensed asset manager – AIFMD compliant
Over € 250 million under management
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20. The Capricorn Team
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21. Capricorn’s base in the historic centre of Leuven
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