Google will increase the cash it allocates to its venture-capital arm to up to $300 million a year from $200 million, catapulting Google Ventures into the top echelon of corporate venture-capital funds.
Access to that sizeable check book means Google Ventures will be able to invest in more later-stage financing rounds, which tend to be in the tens of millions of dollars or more per investor.
It puts the firm on the same footing as more established corporate venture funds such as Intel’s Intel Capital, which typically invests $300-$500 million a year.
“It puts a lot more wood behind the arrow if we need it,” said Bill Maris, managing partner of Google Ventures.
