As part of our full annual review we asked corporate venturing industry leaders “what were the most important trends in 2017?”
The report – World of Corporate Venturing 2018 – will be published at the Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation Summit in Monterey, California, on January 31. The full survey includes insights on best practices in corporate venture capital.
Biplab Adhya and Venu Pemmaraju, co-heads, Wipro Ventures
Accelerated movement of enterprise workload to hybrid cloud, deep learning being used to create sophisticated user experience across verticals, blockchain-driven applications and initial coin offerings.
Riyadh AlRuwais, partner, STC Ventures
Fintech.
Mariano Amartino, Latam startups director, Microsoft
Crispr and blockchain.
Ron Arnold, managing general partner, IAG Firemark Ventures
The rapid rise of VC and CVC out of Asia and particularly China. This has the potential to be game changing, with large volumes of additional money coming into the space – and specifically into Asian markets. Couple that with the growing penetration in smart mobiles and I anticipate some exciting and game-changing ventures out of these markets in the coming years.
Amit Aysola, managing director, Wanxiang Healthcare Investments
Machine learning.
John Banta, managing director, Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Partners
US federal health policy instability.
Miroslav Boublik, group head of special projects, Home Credit Venture Capital
Continuing rise of AI.
Louis-Philippe Boucher, venture analyst, Randstad Innovation Fund
AI, specifically chatbots.
Roel Bulthuis, managing director, Merck Ventures
Convergence of life sciences, tech and digital.
Tony Cannestra, head of Denso Corporate Ventures
AI and automotive.
Oscar Chamberlain, general manager, Petrobras/Cenpes
Bitcoins and AI.
Tony Chao, head of Applied Ventures
AI and deep learning.
Piyush Chaplot, partner, Innosight Ventures
AI and machine learning.
Scarlett Chen, director of strategic investments, Prudential
Big data, AI and blockchain-related solutions.
Eddi Danusaputro, CEO, Mandiri Capital Indonesia
Fintech in developing countries.
Kai Engelhardt, head of corporate strategy, Mahle International
Within companies, smart industries, for example connected supply chains, efficient digitised processes. Electrification – efficient powertrains and CO2 reduction. Digitisation of cars – driving assistants for security and comfort reasons, autonomous driving.
Jay Eum, co-founder and managing director, TransLink Capital
Emergence of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and initial coin offerings (ICOs) as an alternative to traditional fundraising.
Aurora Fagerhus, executive assistant, Marsec
The internet of things, smart home tech and improved healthcare.
William Germain, director of M&A and strategic development, Inmarsat, and venture capital adviser, Techstars
Everything as a digital service, such as application platforms; machine intelligence, automation, AI; trust economy. for example blockchain.
David Gilmour, head of BP Ventures
AI and blockchain.
Larry Harper, vice-president, Stanley Ventures, Stanley Black & Decker
The most important trend for us are investments around AI and machine learning. It is moving fast into all our businesses. We are also having a lot of discussions on how we get exponential growth from our investment portfolio.
Bevin Jacob, partner and co-founder, Automobility
Facial recognition.
Alexander Kalinnikov, investment manager, VTB Capital Investment Management
Increase of blockchain applications, and AI and machine learning.
Rimas Kapeskas, managing director, UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund
AI, machine learning and cognitive computing.
Brendon Kim, managing director, Samsung Next Ventures
Proliferation of AI.
Imran Kizilbash, vice-president and head of Schlumberger Venture Fund
Continued developments and evolution of products in the mobility and transport sector.
Shashi Kumar, director, SK Telecom
Blockchain and AI
Nityen Ranjan Lal, managing director, Icos Capital Management
Trump election and US climate policy changes, solar hitting price parity with coal, and recovery of economy and back to business.
Jacqueline LeSage Krause, managing director, Munich Re/HSB Ventures
The internet of things, AI, and transportation.
Jon Lauckner, president, GM Ventures
Autonomous technology, augmented reality, 3D printing, AI and fintech.
Crispin Leick, managing director, EnBW New Ventures
Blockchain goes nuts.
Victoria Lietha, market development partner, ABB Technology Ventures
Applied AI, advanced machine learning.
Wayne MacGregor, strategic business development, Naspers
Blockchain.
Ashish Mahashabde, principal, IBM Ventures
Face recognition tech becoming mainstream.
Tom Montgomery, senior vice-president, De Beers Ventures
Blockchain and AI.
Keith Muhart, senior director, Qualcomm Ventures
AI was by far the most important tech trend in 2017.
Koji Murota, head of KU-iCap
Gene editing and AI.
Girish Nadkarni, president, Total Energy Ventures
AI, machine learning and blockchain.
Janis Naeve, managing director, Amgen Ventures
Focus on next-generation technologies to improve immuno-oncology and cell-based therapies.
Tony Palcheck, managing director, Zebra Ventures
AI, analytics and automation.
Amish Parashar, partner and director of strategic business development, Yamaha Motor Ventures
Convergence of advances in robotics hardware systems with advancing vision systems, more robust AI, and connectivity.”
Charles Paul, vice-president, Henkel Ventures
Wireless everything. Gene editing.
Ulrich Quay, managing partner, BMW i Ventures
Blockchain and AI.
Susana Quintana-Plaza, partner, Siemens Next47
Autonomous driving.
Mayuresh Raut, managing partner, Salamander Excubator Angel Fund
AI going mainstream, blockchain getting more entrenched, cryptocurrency making rapid strides and ICOs.
Erik Ross, head of Nationwide Ventures, Nationwide Insurance
Machine learning and artificial neuron networks, autonomous vehicle advances, liquid biopsies and biomarkers, quantum computing.
Marek Rubasinski, director of startup investments and partnerships, Sky Ventures
Start of the process of maturing AI and machine learning technology to specific enterprise applications.
Gaurav Sachdeva, partner, JSW Ventures
We are an India-focused fund. We saw AI and machine learning adoption across the board. I would rate it the most important technology trend from an adoption point of view.
Seiji “Eric” Sato, unit general manager, Sumitomo Corporation Europe
Mobility services.
Reese Schroeder, managing director, Tyson Ventures
AI, cybersecurity and foodtech.
Jean-Pierre Sedaghat, managing partner, Vantage Capital Partners
Fintech and AI.
Clara Shen, catalyst director, Mars
Non-tech CVC. China.
Bonny Simi, president, JetBlue Technology Ventures
We see the emergence of AI and blockchain as an early trend that CVCs are starting to pay attention to, as these technologies will transform entire industries.
Markus Solibieda, managing director, BASF Venture Capital
Digitisation.
Sam Tanskul, managing director, Krungsri Finnovate
Blockchain and AI.
Philipp Thurn und Taxis, managing director, Constantia New Business
Blockchain, AI, automation and robotics.
Frank Tong, global head of innovation and strategic investments, HSBC
The continuing fast-paced adoption of digital technology in banking continued as a key theme in 2017. Customers expect to be able to carry out their banking when they want, in the way they want. This is seen in the tremendous global growth across technologies that includes mobile payments, biometrics – voice, digital fingerprint and facial recognition – data analytics and AI – improving risk management, financial crime resilience and marketing to customers.
Nobuyuki Toyoda, manager, office of the president, JSR
AI.
Jonathan Tudor, technology and strategy director, Centrica Innovations
AI, machine learning, blockchain.
Masatoshi Ueno, senior manager, AGC Asahi Glass
Software powered by AI.
Thomas Van Halewyck, founding partner, Bundl
Blockchain and virtual reality.
Rita Waite, manager, Juniper Networks Ventures
AI and machine Learning, cybersecurity, edge computing.
Robert Wetzel, vice-president of corporate development, Enterprise Holdings
Acceleration in advances in autonomous technology, AI and machine learning, and augmented and virtual reality. The pace of advances is increasing.
Robin Wye, research commercialisation manager, BP
Rise of AI, fall of lithium ion battery costs, and the light popping sound of quantum devices in the background.
Shintaro Yamakami, CEO, Colopl Next
Launch of ARkit and ARcore by Apple and Google, the ICO boom, and the $100bn SoftBank Vision Fund
Jimmy Zhu, vice-president, Citi Ventures
The rise of AI and the application of machine learning.”
Paul Wallace, managing director, Heritage Group
Security, migration to the cloud, blockchain.
Jay Onda, startup investments, Orange Silicon Valley
AI, 5G and the internet of things, fintech and blockchain.
Fernand Lendoye, managing director, Aviva Ventures
AI, machine learning, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, ICO
Biplab Adhya and Venu Pemmaraju, co-heads, Wipro Ventures
Accelerated movement of enterprise workload to hybrid cloud, deep learning being used to create sophisticated user experience across verticals, blockchain-driven applications and initial coin offerings.
Riyadh AlRuwais, partner, STC Ventures
Fintech.
Mariano Amartino, Latam startups director, Microsoft
Crispr and blockchain.
Ron Arnold, managing general partner, IAG Firemark Ventures
The rapid rise of VC and CVC out of Asia and particularly China. This has the potential to be game changing, with large volumes of additional money coming into the space – and specifically into Asian markets. Couple that with the growing penetration in smart mobiles and I anticipate some exciting and game-changing ventures out of these markets in the coming years.
Amit Aysola, managing director, Wanxiang Healthcare Investments
Machine learning.
John Banta, managing director, Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Partners
US federal health policy instability.
Miroslav Boublik, group head of special projects, Home Credit Venture Capital
Continuing rise of AI.
Louis-Philippe Boucher, venture analyst, Randstad Innovation Fund
AI, specifically chatbots.
Roel Bulthuis, managing director, Merck Ventures
Convergence of life sciences, tech and digital.
Tony Cannestra, head of Denso Corporate Ventures
AI and automotive.
Oscar Chamberlain, general manager, Petrobras/Cenpes
Bitcoins and AI.
Tony Chao, head of Applied Ventures
AI and deep learning.
Piyush Chaplot, partner, Innosight Ventures
AI and machine learning.
Scarlett Chen, director of strategic investments, Prudential
Big data, AI and blockchain-related solutions.
Eddi Danusaputro, CEO, Mandiri Capital Indonesia
Fintech in developing countries.
Kai Engelhardt, head of corporate strategy, Mahle International
Within companies, smart industries, for example connected supply chains, efficient digitised processes. Electrification – efficient powertrains and CO2 reduction. Digitisation of cars – driving assistants for security and comfort reasons, autonomous driving.
Jay Eum, co-founder and managing director, TransLink Capital
Emergence of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and initial coin offerings (ICOs) as an alternative to traditional fundraising.
Aurora Fagerhus, executive assistant, Marsec
The internet of things, smart home tech and improved healthcare.
William Germain, director of M&A and strategic development, Inmarsat, and venture capital adviser, Techstars
Everything as a digital service, such as application platforms; machine intelligence, automation, AI; trust economy. for example blockchain.
David Gilmour, head of BP Ventures
AI and blockchain.
Larry Harper, vice-president, Stanley Ventures, Stanley Black & Decker
The most important trend for us are investments around AI and machine learning. It is moving fast into all our businesses. We are also having a lot of discussions on how we get exponential growth from our investment portfolio.
Bevin Jacob, partner and co-founder, Automobility
Facial recognition.
Alexander Kalinnikov, investment manager, VTB Capital Investment Management
Increase of blockchain applications, and AI and machine learning.
Rimas Kapeskas, managing director, UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund
AI, machine learning and cognitive computing.
Brendon Kim, managing director, Samsung Next Ventures
Proliferation of AI.
Imran Kizilbash, vice-president and head of Schlumberger Venture Fund
Continued developments and evolution of products in the mobility and transport sector.
Shashi Kumar, director, SK Telecom
Blockchain and AI
Nityen Ranjan Lal, managing director, Icos Capital Management
Trump election and US climate policy changes, solar hitting price parity with coal, and recovery of economy and back to business.
Jacqueline LeSage Krause, managing director, Munich Re/HSB Ventures
The internet of things, AI, and transportation.
Jon Lauckner, president, GM Ventures
Autonomous technology, augmented reality, 3D printing, AI and fintech.
Crispin Leick, managing director, EnBW New Ventures
Blockchain goes nuts.
Victoria Lietha, market development partner, ABB Technology Ventures
Applied AI, advanced machine learning.
Wayne MacGregor, strategic business development, Naspers
Blockchain.
Ashish Mahashabde, principal, IBM Ventures
Face recognition tech becoming mainstream.
Tom Montgomery, senior vice-president, De Beers Ventures
Blockchain and AI.
Keith Muhart, senior director, Qualcomm Ventures
AI was by far the most important tech trend in 2017.
Koji Murota, head of KU-iCap
Gene editing and AI.
Girish Nadkarni, president, Total Energy Ventures
AI, machine learning and blockchain.
Janis Naeve, managing director, Amgen Ventures
Focus on next-generation technologies to improve immuno-oncology and cell-based therapies.
Tony Palcheck, managing director, Zebra Ventures
AI, analytics and automation.
Amish Parashar, partner and director of strategic business development, Yamaha Motor Ventures
Convergence of advances in robotics hardware systems with advancing vision systems, more robust AI, and connectivity.”
Charles Paul, vice-president, Henkel Ventures
Wireless everything. Gene editing.
Ulrich Quay, managing partner, BMW i Ventures
Blockchain and AI.
Susana Quintana-Plaza, partner, Siemens Next47
Autonomous driving.
Mayuresh Raut, managing partner, Salamander Excubator Angel Fund
AI going mainstream, blockchain getting more entrenched, cryptocurrency making rapid strides and ICOs.
Erik Ross, head of Nationwide Ventures, Nationwide Insurance
Machine learning and artificial neuron networks, autonomous vehicle advances, liquid biopsies and biomarkers, quantum computing.
Marek Rubasinski, director of startup investments and partnerships, Sky Ventures
Start of the process of maturing AI and machine learning technology to specific enterprise applications.
Gaurav Sachdeva, partner, JSW Ventures
We are an India-focused fund. We saw AI and machine learning adoption across the board. I would rate it the most important technology trend from an adoption point of view.
Seiji “Eric” Sato, unit general manager, Sumitomo Corporation Europe
Mobility services.
Reese Schroeder, managing director, Tyson Ventures
AI, cybersecurity and foodtech.
Jean-Pierre Sedaghat, managing partner, Vantage Capital Partners
Fintech and AI.
Clara Shen, catalyst director, Mars
Non-tech CVC. China.
Bonny Simi, president, JetBlue Technology Ventures
We see the emergence of AI and blockchain as an early trend that CVCs are starting to pay attention to, as these technologies will transform entire industries.
Markus Solibieda, managing director, BASF Venture Capital
Digitisation.
Sam Tanskul, managing director, Krungsri Finnovate
Blockchain and AI.
Philipp Thurn und Taxis, managing director, Constantia New Business
Blockchain, AI, automation and robotics.
Frank Tong, global head of innovation and strategic investments, HSBC
The continuing fast-paced adoption of digital technology in banking continued as a key theme in 2017. Customers expect to be able to carry out their banking when they want, in the way they want. This is seen in the tremendous global growth across technologies that includes mobile payments, biometrics – voice, digital fingerprint and facial recognition – data analytics and AI – improving risk management, financial crime resilience and marketing to customers.
Nobuyuki Toyoda, manager, office of the president, JSR
AI.
Jonathan Tudor, technology and strategy director, Centrica Innovations
AI, machine learning, blockchain.
Masatoshi Ueno, senior manager, AGC Asahi Glass
Software powered by AI.
Thomas Van Halewyck, founding partner, Bundl
Blockchain and virtual reality.
Rita Waite, manager, Juniper Networks Ventures
AI and machine Learning, cybersecurity, edge computing.
Robert Wetzel, vice-president of corporate development, Enterprise Holdings
Acceleration in advances in autonomous technology, AI and machine learning, and augmented and virtual reality. The pace of advances is increasing.
Robin Wye, research commercialisation manager, BP
Rise of AI, fall of lithium ion battery costs, and the light popping sound of quantum devices in the background.
Shintaro Yamakami, CEO, Colopl Next
Launch of ARkit and ARcore by Apple and Google, the ICO boom, and the $100bn SoftBank Vision Fund
Jimmy Zhu, vice-president, Citi Ventures
The rise of AI and the application of machine learning.”
Paul Wallace, managing director, Heritage Group
Security, migration to the cloud, blockchain.
Jay Onda, startup investments, Orange Silicon Valley
AI, 5G and the internet of things, fintech and blockchain.
Fernand Lendoye, managing director, Aviva Ventures
AI, machine learning, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, ICO