our approach

providing technology and business endorsement

An investment from TELUS is a seal of approval. It indicates a "carrier grade" technology that will meet the needs of major telecommunications providers worldwide.

As an $8 billion, full-service telecommunications provider and one of the largest carriers in North America, TELUS offers substantial value as a signature customer to its portfolio companies.

TELUS is recognized in North America as a leader in the telecommunications sector providing advanced offerings in wireless, IP–Television, Voice over IP and high-speed Internet service. Working with TELUS enables evolutionary and revolutionary companies to demonstrate their capabilities to the market.

Taking our Portfolio Companies to the Next Level

The TELUS Ventures strategy is to customize its approach for each portfolio company. Our main role is to act as an advocate for our portfolio companies, enhancing their visibility and expanding their relationships throughout the TELUS organization and our strategic partners. Benefits to portfolio companies include:

• Access to TELUS decision makers and technical personnel.
• Access to distribution channels in Canada, the U.S. and select international markets.
• Referrals to strategic partners and connections to key industry players.
• Industry and market insights.

Working with the Best

As a strategic investor, TELUS Ventures co-invests with leading venture capital groups to create a balanced and powerful support team for a start-up company. The combination of growth capital, relationships, and technical and management expertise provides for the powerful backing of any venture-backed firm.

Ensuring Strategic Alignment

TELUS Ventures makes strategic investments in high–growth market opportunities related to the telecommunications sector with a focus on exploiting the convergence of voice, enhanced data, digital media and wireless. These opportunities include products that can be purchased by TELUS as well as solutions that can be sold by our business units.

All investments require the executive sponsorship of one of TELUS' business units, and the support of our Investment Review Committee, which is comprised of C–suite executives from across the company.

Assessing Opportunities

We use the following investment criteria to assess opportunities:

Strategic fit			Does the company's technology, value proposition and market differentiation fit with the strategic initiatives of TELUS?
Ability to add value to the company			Is there an opportunity for TELUS to bring additional value to the company through distribution channels, references, technical or market expertise?
Strong management team			Does the management team have a solid track record, sector expertise and a proven ability to deliver results?
Large market opportunity			What is the size and growth rate of the market being addressed by the opportunity?
Strong exit potential			What are the likely exit scenarios and timeframes for a Ventures investment?
Unique technology			Are there proprietary intellectual property and patents? Is the technology secure, reliable and scalable?
Competitive differentiation			Can the company implement barriers to entry for competitors through patents, quick time to market or other means? Is the proposed marketing strategy executable?
Financial considerations			What are the potential investment returns? What is the total investment required to reach profitability?