Venture capital flows again but views differ on IP value

by Richard Ball

Venture capital funding is becoming easier to access, but industry leaders are at odds over the value of pure intellectual property firms.

"A lot of problems the industry is facing will go away," said Mike Risman, a director of VC firm Apax Partners.

He predicts a broader range of semiconductor firms in which to invest, and that "IP will again become valuable as a business model".

Risman made his comments last week at a meeting of VC firms, IP lawyers and start-up companies organised by FirstStage Capital.