Imagine what’s possible when we join forces: the strength and scale of a Fortune 500 company combined with the experience of a successful startup – plus your drive to reimagine the way things could 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.
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.
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.
As Chief Product and Innovation Officer, John M. Grogan is responsible for the strategy and performance of the company’s insurance businesses and the company’s innovation strategy. This includes overall leadership of product development, product line performance, risk selection standards, innovation in products, services, and digital technologies, and the company’s venture fund investing in new business and emerging technologies. He also serves as a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team.
Grogan joined the company as an attorney in 1992 and has worked in and held leadership roles in a variety of departments, including law, insurance, distribution and sales, and investment products. In 2004, he was appointed an executive officer of the company. He served as president and chief executive officer of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company during the financial crisis from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he lead the integration of all support to the field across products, planning and markets.
Before joining Northwestern Mutual, Grogan worked for the federal judiciary in Kansas City, Missouri, and as a certified public accountant for Arthur Andersen in Chicago.
Grogan is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and of the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. He also completed the Kellogg Management Institute at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
He currently serves on the board of Marquette University High School, The Medical College of Wisconsin, and LIMRA/LOMA Global.
John is married to his wife, Denise, and has 4 children.
Craig Schedler serves as a Managing Director 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.
Erin Henry is the Senior Director, Venture Platform at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. In this role, she’s responsible for bringing the company’s business enablement capabilities to portfolio companies.
Previously, Erin held a series of roles focused on organizational effectiveness and strategy where she provided thought leadership, tools and analyses to advise leaders on strengthening the link between strategy and human capital to accelerate organizational performance. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Erin worked at Johnson Controls in supplier diversity where she developed relationships with small and diverse-owned companies and helped them to grow and scale, supporting diversity and sustainability in the supply chain.
In line with her passion for supporting organizations focused on education and economic empowerment, she serves on several boards, including: Community Advocates, Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin, and Cardinal Stritch University-College of Business and Management Advisory Council.
Erin received a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard Business School, AM in Sociology from Harvard University, MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and BA in Economics and International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Marie-Christine (MC) is a 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.
Moiz Dawoodbhai is an Associate at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. Moiz is focused on identifying and sourcing startups, due diligence and portfolio management for NMFV.
Previously, Moiz was a Senior Consultant and Innovation Manager in Client Services Strategy at Northwestern Mutual. He led digital transformation efforts to create a personalized customer experience and design new engagement models by exploring insuretech and fintech offerings and co-creating with early-stage startups.
Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Moiz was a part of the Innovation Team at Aurora Health Care, executing both joint ventures with health-tech startups and new product development. Moiz holds a BA in Marketing and IT from UW-Milwaukee and an MBA from Michigan State University. In his spare time, Moiz serves as the head coach of Milwaukee Metro, a youth basketball organization, and enjoys spending time with his family and cheering on the Spartans – Go Green!
John Grogan (Chair)EVP & Chief Product and Innovation Officer
Souheil Badran EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Erick Rudiak SVP Chief Technology Officer
Andrew DeGuire VP Corporate Strategy
Christian Mitchell EVP & Chief Customer Officer
Jason Von Bergen VP Research and Analytics
Christi Kubiak Director