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Staying on top of technology and gauging future trends is a tough job in a rapidly moving market
WHETHER YOU ARE chasing after dot-com financing or just trying to figure out what's hot in the New Econom, Stephen Andriole may be the man to buttonhole.
As CTO and senior vice president of the Internet-centric holding company Safeguard Scientifics, Andriole applies his IT experience and insight to help some serious money figure out where to place its investments.
"My mission is to track technology and technology market trends to help keep Safeguard ahead of the curve,"Andriole says. And, he adds, his job is to make sure Safeguard invests in companies that are "on the right technology trajectory."
With trends in mind, Safeguard Scientifics incubates, manages, and operates technology companies. Headed by venture capitalist Warren "Pete" Musser, the company's goal is to reap financial rewards when startups go public or get sold.
After Wayne, Pa.-based Safeguard acquires or invests in a company, Andriole has the task of helping those budding concerns in the Safeguard greenhouse stay on top of the ever-shifting market trends. His role in these Safeguard-nurtured companies varies. "It depends on how much we own of the company and the company's requirements. In some cases we're very involved in all ness,but in others ifs ness,but in of a strategic ad visor role,' he of a strategic ad visor role," he says.
Right now, Safeguard's investment network consists of more than 50 direct holdings and more than 250 indirect holdings, investments that it stakes through interests in nine private equity funds.
The portfolio includes such publicly traded companies as technology consulting...