Wharton Club of Northern California - Scale School: Perspectives on Start-Up Acquisitions

Scale School: Perspectives on Start-Up Acquisitions

The past few decades have shown a dramatic rise in start-up acquisitions, which have become the dominant channel through which ventures successfully exit. But how effective are start-up acquisitions (1) for big companies as a source of new innovation and talent and (2) for the careers of acquired founders and employees?

In this session, J. Daniel Kim, Assistant Professor of Management, The Wharton School, and panelists, Gary Johnson, WG'08, Founder & Managing Partner, Kokua Ventures, former Global Head of Strategy, Business, & Corporate Development, Pinterest, and Rich Riley, W'96, Co-CEO, Origin Materials, former CEO, Shazam, will discuss the post-acquisition reality from the perspectives of both established companies (“acquirers”) and start-ups (“targets”). They will also share actionable observations and lessons that both parties may want to consider in the future.

Professor J. Daniel Kim
Assistant Proffessor of Management, Wharton School

Gary Johnson, WG'08
Founder and Managing Partner, Kokua Ventures
Former Global Head of Strategy, Business & Corporate Development, Pinterest

Rich Riley, W'96
Co-CEO, Origin Materials
Former CEO, Shazam

DATE: Tuesday, April 12, 2022
TIME: 9:30 am - 10:30 am PT | 12:30- 1:30 PM (ET)
No fee to attend
Virtual Event

Registration required in advance.

The Wharton Scale School workshop series offers solutions to critical challenges faced by rapidly growing companies. Scale School is your guide as you move beyond initial product-market fit to the creation of a large enterprise of tremendous value.

Questions? Email entrepreneurshipsf@wharton.upenn.edu

Welcome to the Wharton Club of Northern California - Scale School: Perspectives on Start-Up Acquisitions