It recently launched a venture fund for creative start-ups.

Raised a $300 million venture fund in 1998.

Imbued with dreams of outsized returns, venture funds filled the sector's coffers to the brim.

The winner will get his or her venture funded to the tune of $1 million.

These two realizations led to the creatation a new type of venture firm that was intentionally small but provided the network and access to rival any top-tier venture fund.