Venture Capital-as-a-Service Details

Process | Fee Structure | Engagement Steps | FAQ

Our Process

Serica’s unique market position and cross-border transaction expertise enable us to deliver best-in-class deal flow and transaction support to MNCs seeking to invest in local startups. 

VCaaS

  • 1

    RESEARCH
    Understand the key motives driving your investment needs and how they fit into your global strategy and cross-border innovation goals. Then conduct detailed market research, case referencing. and ecosystem mapping.

  • 2

    STRATEGY
    Develop a comprehensive strategy (with clear actionable steps and resource allocation recommendations) that can be presented to and greenlit by your headquarters.

     

  • 3

    COLLATERAL
    Develop a Chinese pitch deck and other materials to create a compelling opportunity that resonates locally.

  • 4

    SCOUTING
    Identify the most promising startups, conduct due diligence, shortlist the highest-ranking prospects, and compile a report for your consideration.

  • 5

    ENGAGEMENT
    Conduct initial engagements to further qualify your shortlisted startups and set strong foundations for formal negotiations.

  • 6

    NEGOTIATIONS (OPTIONAL)
    Negotiate (with or on your behalf) term sheets and help you navigate through any bureaucracy or regulatory hurdles you may encounter along the way.

  • 7

    INTEGRATION (OPTIONAL)
    Integration negotiation, training courses, operational and communication framework, and monitoring to keep your ventures on track.

  • 8

    GOVERNANCE (OPTIONAL)
    Ongoing strategic oversight and commercial support to help you steward your startups towards their goals.

Fee Structure

Fully tailored to your needs and goals, our monthly fees (based on annual contracts) are calculated from specific project variables, including industry complexity, resource allocation, and value created.

VARIABLES

PROJECT FEE

(formula)
Complexity x Resource Allocation x Value Created =
(our rates)

(our rates)
$25-50k per month
(our rates).

All prices are in USD and exclusive of sales tax. Serica DOES NOT, under any circumstances, work on a sweat equity or commission only basis.

Engagement Steps

Our engagement process is designed to be highly collaborative to ensure that we find the best solution for your company as efficiently and effectively as possible.

  1. Receive a complimentary initial consultation to discuss your goals for the Chinese market and how Serica can help you achieve them.
  2. Sign a Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (MNDA) to protect everyone’s interests. For mutual convenience and security, agreements are sent electronically via DocuSign.
  3. We outline the details (in a simple 10-slide presentation) of our prescribed solution – covering the opportunities, time-frames, the value created, and estimated project fees for your consideration.
  4. Once you achieve consensus on the broad solution, we will have a follow-up meeting to allow you to ask any questions, refine details, and request changes.
  5. Building upon what was previously discussed and agreed upon, we collaborate to develop an ‘Initial Proposal’ covering the precise scope, deliverables, and operation details.
  6. We conduct a ‘Proposal Review Meeting’ where we both have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate, and further refine the proposal.
  7. Based on discussions in the previous meeting, additional details are added to the proposal, alongside Terms & Conditions, transforming the proposal into a legal contract.
  8. We begin working together to achieve your commercial goals and international ambitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the average length of a Venture Capital as a Service project?

Between 12 to 36 months, based on an annual recurring contract.

2. What are your primary innovation sources?
Our innovation sources include but are not limited to universities, incubators, accelerators, investment firms, research institutes, and trade organizations.

3. What support can you provide after the project is complete?
Serica can provide ad hoc negotiation, integration, and governance solutions to support your ongoing transactions and existing ventures. Click here for details.

4. We are concerned that government authorities may block our investments. Can you mitigate the risk of this happening?
Yes, we proactively coordinate with different government departments such as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the US International Trade Administration, and the UK Department for International Trade in advance of any transaction. 

5. Are expenses covered?
No, any expenses (such as travel and accommodation) will be borne by you. Our contracts typically state that all expenses must be pre-approved and itemized receipts must be provided before any reimbursements of expenses can be made.

6. Are there any third-party fees we will incur?
Maybe, it depends on the project scope. Common third-party fees include software, legal, and administrative fees that you will incur. Where such third-party fees occur, Serica will endeavor through its network of strategic partners, to keep these costs to a minimum.

7. What are your billing cycles?

We bill quarterly, with the first payment due within ten (10) business days of the contract being entered into.

8. What currencies do you accept?
USD, GBP, EUR, and RMB.

9. What jurisdictions apply to Serica contracts?
Our default jurisdiction is Singapore due to its advanced legal system and efficient (and cost-effective) dispute resolution. We can also accept other well-regarded Common Law jurisdictions such as England and the United States as alternative jurisdictions.

10. Why do you exclusively use digital contracts, proposals, and invoices?

The ability to receive, sign, and pay electronically provides both of us with enhanced security and greater convenience. Learn more.

11. How do you track and report project progress?
We provide you with direct access to our communication hub (Microsoft Teams) and project management software (Monday.com) that enables you to track and review our progress in real-time.

12. What else do you need from us?
Serica takes a highly collaborative approach to every project we undertake. Throughout the project, we expect and need you to dedicate the time, focus, and resources towards achieving the goals we set together.

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