Imagine what’s possible when we join forces: the strength and scale of a Fortune 500 company combined with the experience of a successful start-up plus your drive to reimagine the way things should be. Together we can harness innovation to become the future of financial security.
The way in which consumers want to engage with their money and plan for their financial future is changing. We seek partners who are developing new products and solutions that empower consumers to take control of their personal finances and lives.
America is in the early stages of healthcare transformation. As providers and consumers are beginning to have much greater interest in and deeper understanding of healthy outcomes, we seek partners who are shaping the future of health and wellness.
Financial security has never asked more of people than it does today. Yet as consumers, we expect easier and better from the companies we choose to engage with. We’re looking for partners who are developing tools and platforms to deliver the experience clients need, want and deserve in the present and the future.
As customers continue to move toward digital experiences, we know the immense power that new technologies and enhanced analytics can provide to improve customer engagement. We look to invest in and partner with companies that are bringing new capabilities to market.
Female-founded startups receive less than three percent of the approximately $80 billion in venture capital annually. Companies founded by both men and women receive around eight percent of the total capital, coming second to male-founded companies that secure 89 percent of all venture capital invested globally each year.
As part of Northwestern Mutual’s ongoing commitment to women and diversity, NM Future Ventures will dedicate $20 million of its funding to invest in startup companies founded by women. This funding allocation will advance the company’s investment strategy of engaging startups whose technologies have the potential to transform how clients experience financial security, as well as increase focus on technological disruption. The investment criteria align with NM Future Venture’s key strategic areas of focus listed above.
Our goal is to help you achieve yours so that together we can create a better financial future for more people. We’re different than most corporate venture capital partners: Northwestern Mutual has a 160-year-old track record of industry-leading financial strength, client-centricity and an entrepreneurial culture, which has not only enabled but driven us to always innovate for our clients. Plus, we know what it’s like to be a start-up because we have successful entrepreneurs on our team. In 2015, we combined forces with LearnVest through an acquisition that began as a strategic investing partnership.
Typically, we begin partnerships through a Series A or Series B investment, but we will consider earlier or later stage opportunities. Our initial investment range is up to $5 million, but we’re most focused on finding the right partners and will consider smaller or larger investments. While our preference is to co-invest, we may consider leading rounds if the partnership is right.
Souheil Badran is Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Northwestern Mutual. He is responsible for identifying opportunities in innovation communities and overseeing Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, Cream City Venture Capital, and the Wisconn Valley Venture Fund.
Before beginning at Northwestern Mutual, Badran served as president of Alipay Americas, the world’s largest third-party payment platform, where he was responsible for enhancing the buying experience of millions of Chinese consumers who shop annually by bringing mobile and online payments to merchants in North and South America. Prior to his beginning at Alipay, Badran served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Edo Interactive, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital River, and Senior Vice President and General Manager for First Data Corporation’s E-Commerce Solutions Group. He began his career in Milwaukee at M&I Data Services.
Throughout his career, Badran has had experience with organizations that ranged from venture capital-funded, private equity-owned to various public companies. His career has led him to gain global experience across the e-commerce, big data, security, and payment industries.
Badran, born in Lebanon, graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1988, and went on to receive a master’s degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch in 1997. He currently serves as a board member for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
Craig Schedler serves as a Venture Partner with Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, the company's corporate venture capital arm. Craig is responsible for managing NM’s strategic venture capital investments in financial technology, digital health, data analytics and client experience.
Previously, Craig was a Director in the Corporate Strategy function at Northwestern Mutual. His team provided analysis on current competitive threats and opportunities, and how the strategic actions of those competitors affect NM.
Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Craig was a member of the healthcare investment banking team at B.C. Ziegler and Company executing both merger and acquisition and capital markets transactions.
Marie-Christine (MC) is a Venture Associate at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. Marie-Christine focuses on deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring for NMFV.
Prior to joining NMFV Marie-Christine was a Scouting Manager for State Farm Labs in Silicon Valley. Here, she was responsible for identifying relevant startups for partnership opportunities. While there she co-founded Insurtech SVSF- an insurtech networking group.
She started her career in Catastrophe Insurance, where she spent 7+ years as a Property Underwriter and Catastrophe Modeler, underwriting commercial deals ranging from $1M-$16B.
Marie-Christine graduated from McGill University with a B.S. in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences. While there she rowed varsity crew for four years. In her free time she likes to explore Milwaukee with her dog Mini, make ice cream, and watch British detective shows.
Souheil Badran (Chair)EVP & Chief Innovation Officer
Jeb BentleyVP Investment Strategy
Andrew DeGuireVP Corporate Strategy
Karl GouverneurVP Digital Workplace & Corporate Solutions
Christian MitchellEVP & Chief Customer Officer
Jason Von BergenVP Research and Analytics