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Google Weighs New Venture Capital Arm

Search engine giant may look to seed start ups

By Jim O'Neill, Newser User

Posted Jul 31, 2008 10:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Google is planning to launch a venture capital arm, the Wall Street Journal reports, and has hired an entrepreneur who's also been an investor to head the project. Other tech firms, including Intel, Motorola, and Comcast, already have VC units. Just how big a commitment Google will make and what type of businesses it will back haven’t been revealed.

VC investment is down slightly in the first half of 2008 compared with a year ago, according to firms that track the business.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with Google Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, David Drummond at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Darryl Bush)

A sign outside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

Google Co-founder and President of Technology Sergey Brinn. (AP Photo)

A Google sign inside Google headquarters is seen in Mountain View, Calif., in this May 30, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

Google Inc. Chairman Eric Schmidt. (AP Photo)

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Search engine giant may look to seed start ups

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Google Gets Europe's OK to Buy Motorola

But regulators in EU, United States will monitor for antitrust

Google Bought Motorola for the Patents

Firm seeks protection from intellectual property litigation: Kit Eaton

Stocks Shoot Up at Open

Dow sees triple-digit rise

Google Buys Motorola for $12.5B

Google to directly produce Android phones, says system will remain open

T-Mobile May Beat Verizon to iPhone

Verizon's alliance with Google an obstacle for Apple

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Google • Walt Disney Co. • venture capital • Motorola • Intel Corp

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Google Gets Europe's OK to Buy Motorola

But regulators in EU, United States will monitor for antitrust

Google Bought Motorola for the Patents

Firm seeks protection from intellectual property litigation: Kit Eaton

Stocks Shoot Up at Open

Dow sees triple-digit rise

Google Buys Motorola for $12.5B

Google to directly produce Android phones, says system will remain open

T-Mobile May Beat Verizon to iPhone

Verizon's alliance with Google an obstacle for Apple

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?