[cheatercheater]

It's less important that Dell invests in companies (of course they do!), it's more important how this is being publicized. Terms like startup are becoming pervasive household names in corporate finance. Not-so-suddenly, corporations are overtaken with a new trend: fund some startups, and they might help your geriatric company's stagnation. It's like having grandchildren late in life.

I can already imagine: 5 years from now, McDonald's funds startups. Possibly something to do with transforming pig dung into a renewable energy source. Humoristically, stock prices go plummeting because Burger King has higher-yield, lower-margin cow dung to process.

[rexreed]

How are they investing in startups? I've read the announcement and specifics, and it's just a line of credit with favorable terms. And in order to qualify, you have to have already raised a round.

The title of the post and press release are misleading. There's no real investment being made here, that I can tell, other than just making the credit process easier and slightly more lax.