Over the past couple of decades, corporate venturing has been characterised by its boom-and-bust cycles. Companies would increase their investments during frothy markets to boost financial performance and then pull back during economic downturns when the prospect of quick financial gains evaporated. Today, corporate venturing is taking a different approach. Companies are still seeking financial… Continue reading How the best corporate venturers keep getting better
Category: Comment
Interview: Michael Lohnert, Boeing HorizonX Ventures
Michael Lohnert, investment director at Boeing HorizonX Ventures, touted the potential of low earth orbit (Leo) satellite technologies but also expressed concern that some founders in the space have underestimated the difficulty of delivering solutions to market
Interview: Marc Rennard, Orange Digital Ventures
Robin Brinkworth spoke with Marc Rennard, the new CEO and chairman of Orange Digital Ventures (ODV), about their commitment to innovation and coordinating ODV with other parts of the Orange Group
Getting better, together
September issue editorial by James Mawson, editor-in-chief
Editorial: Europe’s most important budget
Pascal Lamy, the so-called “gendarme” of the European Commission (EC) in the 1980s and 1990s, might have passed on the mantle of most powerful chief of staff and controller to Martin “the monster” Selmayr, now secretary-general for the world’s second-largest economy, but his influence remains on important areas of policy, particularly innovation. In his influential report on… Continue reading Editorial: Europe’s most important budget
Analysis: Tencent-backed IPOs
Since the beginning of 2017, Global Corporate Venturing (GCV) Analytics has tracked and seen a number of companies backed by China-based internet company Tencent go public in Hong Kong and the US.
Editorial: Tencent plans greater control of Nio
Nio, a China-based smart electric vehicle developer, filed last week to raise up to $1.8bn in an initial public offering in the US but in the details of its offering is an unusual wrinkle for one corporate venturing unit to effectively help control its future strategy through unequal voting rights. Nio’s F-1 filing said: “Each fully paid… Continue reading Editorial: Tencent plans greater control of Nio
Editorial: Alphabet’s results highlights its ‘Other Bets’
With Facebook and Netflix stumbling without recognised corporate venturing units, it has been interesting to see the other big four US internet companies, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Apple, with powerful CVC investments report or predict strong results. Alphabet was the most clear-cut as it reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings last Monday, driving Alphabet shares to a new… Continue reading Editorial: Alphabet’s results highlights its ‘Other Bets’
How science can bring about a eureka moment for Indian startups
University corner: India
Get the most from your new presence in Silicon Valley
Georges Nahon, Orange Silicon Valley, shares the Most Framework designed to help corporations operating in Silicon Valley to answer strategic questions, operate effectively, plan,and ultimately bring back new ideas, tech and business models to their larger organisations.
Corporate venturing for Asian corporations
Jay Eum, TransLink Capital, lends his advice to Asian corporations looking to collaborate with early-stage US technology startups.
How large firms can innovate by collaborating with startups
It is not surprising that more and more corporations are looking to work with startups. The business landscape is changing quickly, making it hard for large firms to innovate quickly enough to thrive in this new context.
Where small changes can have large consequences
George Gogolev brings a wealth of venture capital experience to Severstal Ventures, having come from the ecosystem-focused Russian Venture Company (RVC), the state fund of funds that backs innovation across the country. There, he was the director of corporate innovation and technology transfer, before he joined Severstal as its head of disruptive innovation in February.… Continue reading Where small changes can have large consequences
Interview: Leo de Luna, M12
Formerly principal at Split Rock Partners before coming on board at what was then Microsoft Ventures in 2016 – now M12 – Leo de Luna has a wealth of venture capital experience. That experience serves him well at M12, which unlike many corporate venturing units, is solely financially driven. He said: “I have been in… Continue reading Interview: Leo de Luna, M12