Google Ventures, the search giant's venture capital arm, will invest more than $200 million in more than 100 companies over the next year.
Bill Maris and Graham Spencer of Google Ventures discussed the VC firm's investment philosophy at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco Tuesday. Maris explained that Google Ventures combines quantitative analysis of each startup along with traditional venture capital signals and gut instincts.
"We want to use our analytics to try to figure out ... to get a better sense of whether we should invest," Maris said as he explained how Google Ventures would choose the companies that would receive funding from the firm. The New York Times reported Google would spend $200 million in venture capital investments earlier this year.
Maris and Spencer said one thing that doesn't affect the firm's investment decisions is whether or not a company could be a strategic asset to Google. Like traditional VC firms, Google Ventures makes its investment decisions solely on the potential financial return to the firm and its partners.