Investment Process and Advisory Committee

Our investment committee includes angel investors and institutional seed investors.

Pre-screening Assessment Process

Potential applicant companies for both MR125 and MR250 undergo an initial vetting and due diligence assessment by OCI during the pre-screening stage. Companies will need to fulfill all eligibility criteria and will be vetted for suitability and fit for the Market Readiness Co-Investment Fund, including the company's suitability for OCI's investment philosophy and current portfolio.

Companies invited to submit due diligence documents are expected to:

  • Be innovative, high-potential and scalable, with disruptive/next generation innovation/technology that serves a significant identified need in the targeted market(s)
  • Have a large enough mission/goal with the potential to raise additional capital in the next 1-2 years
  • Be able to articulate a credible business and/or revenue model with a future value proposition to support potential follow-on investment

Investment Advisory Committee (IAC)

All Market Readiness companies that have been invited to submit due diligence documents are evaluated by the Investment Advisory Committee (IAC), which is comprised of three external (independent subject matter and business) experts. Following submission and internal review of their due diligence documents, founders are expected to present to the IAC during a panel review meeting. IAC members are contractually bound by confidentiality and conflict of interest requirements.

The IAC makes funding recommendations to OCI based on its assessment of the due diligence documents and pitch presentation. The final funding decision rests with OCI through its Internal Review Panel (IRP), which is comprised of senior OCI staff.

Once submitted, due diligence documents will be evaluated by the IAC against assessment criteria, including:

  • Product Offering: core value proposition, ability to address customer challenges, appropriateness of stage of development and commercialization
  • Target Customers: identification and plan to access customers, willingness to pay, marketing strategy
  • Market and Competition: appropriateness and feasibility of the business model and pricing structure, plan to address competition and barriers to entry (e.g. regulatory), potential exit strategy
  • Team: ability and resources to achieve the milestones and deliver a repeatable sales process
  • Milestones: suitability to grow customer base and/or attract follow-on investment, risk mitigation plan, clarity and feasibility of next steps