In The Beginning…
In 1962, Charles E. Miller founded his first business, Engineering Measurements Company (Nasdaq: EMCO), manufactures of precision flow meter instrumentation used in various industrial applications, including liquid, steam, and gas. After a successful 30+ year run, Charles sold EMCO to Advanced Energy Industries (Nasdaq: AEIS) in 2000. Soon after the acquisition, Charles founded a private investment firm, CEM & Associates LLC (dba CEMA Ventures) focused on various investment sectors that are aligned with his unique professional expertise, knowledge and interests, including next generation vortex flow meters, bench top NMR spectrometers, commercial/industrial real estate, and finance.
A Balanced Approach
Since the founding of CEMA Ventures, the firm has successfully funded 10+ start-ups, 10+ real estate properties as well as financially supported several non-profit initiatives focused on giving back to the community. Our investment philosophy at CEMA Ventures is on building a balanced portfolio that include early-stage technology start-ups, commercial/industrial real estate properties, business loans and economic development initiatives.
Pushing The Flywheel Together
For our portfolio companies, doing business with CEMA Ventures is more than just having a capital funding resource, it also means having a committed partner that provides advice, consultation, and support that will help mitigate risks as well as accelerate business growth. By partnering together, we seek ways to build and optimize the business value ‘flywheel’ that ultimately produces momentum, efficiency and growth for the entire business.
The ‘flywheel’ effect was first introduced by Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great. The primary idea is that good companies don’t just suddenly become great overnight. There isn’t a single defining moment responsible for that success. Instead, it’s a gradual process that takes a lot of time, hard work, and focused action towards the goal destination. At first, heavy flywheels barely move. But when you keep pushing it, the effort eventually overcomes the inertia. Push by push, the wheel starts accelerating more, until a point where the momentum eventually takes over.
CEMA Ventures wants to help build as well as push that business value ‘flywheel’ with our portfolio companies so that we reach a point where together we overcome the early stage inertia and breakthrough to rapid and sustainable growth.
Making Visions Reality
The CEMA Ventures management team is led by Charles E. Miller (Chairman), Chuck A. Miller (Managing Partner) and Tom Roling (VP of Corporate Development). Each team member brings a unique and wide range skill set, experience and knowledge to our portfolio companies and partnerships. Our entrepreneurial roots go way back, we understand the start-up culture and love the process of bringing novel ideas to market.
We at CEMA Ventures are more than just a typical venture capital firm, we are entrepreneurs, advisors and partners that are committed to growing your business and helping bring your vision into reality.
If our flywheel investment thesis seems like a good fit for your business, contact us today to discuss ways we can help your business accelerate growth.
Onward & Upward!
