By covering all sectors and all regions, the Global Corporate Venturing annual survey of investors is a unique snapshot of the technologies that caught the eye of venturers last year and offer potential for this year.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain shone on many investors’ eyes as the big tech issues of 2018. Looking ahead reveals these developments are still being closely watched, along with interest in wider fields, from fusion power to outer space, implantable therapeutics to disease-modifying drugs.
Ultimately, as Tom Bussey at HSBC said, it is about “moving more towards emerging technologies being used to solve real problems rather than the development of technologies for no considered purpose”. In this, changes in regulation and society as much as new inventions hold the key.
In alphabetical order:
Nicolas Bailleux, group innovation director at Europcar Mobility Group, said blockchain was his big tech area of interest last year.
Ran Bar-Sella, vice-president of corporate innovation at Elbit Systems and CEO at Incubit Technology Ventures, for last year said:” AI, internet-of-things sensors, automotive sensors.” And this year would be AI.
Jasper Bos, new head of M Ventures, for 2018 said: “In our field, still immuno-oncology drugs, the large acquisitions in cell therapies in oncology, and the further inroads that gene therapy and RNA therapeutics are making.” He added for 2019: “Alternative therapeutic modalities and disease modifying drugs.”
Paulo Braga, head of corporate venture at Eurofarma, said: “There were a couple of exciting technologies in 2018, but artificial intelligence and big data played a big role this past year, especially in the healthcare ecosystem.” He added for 2019: “Healthtechs and digital therapies, especially the ones using AI to make easier, faster and cheaper treatments and diagnostics. We are in an imminent disruption phase within the sector and with great changes comes great opportunities.”
Laurel Buckner, senior vice-president and managing director at ATN Ventures, for 2018 said: “AI, machine learning, hybrid cloud, 5G’s promise and beginning debut of high bandwidth low-latency networks.”
Tom Bussey, investment manager at HSBC Ventures, for last year said: “Moving more towards emerging technologies being used to solve real problems rather than the development of technologies for no considered purpose – the application of these technologies to specific problems should make for an exciting 2019.” In addition, he added this year: “Changes in regulation often drive innovation – I am keeping a close eye on opportunities driven by open banking.”
Tony Cannestra, director of corporate ventures at Denso, last year said: “The continued rise of semiconductor startups trying to solve the deep learning, machine learning and AI computer power issue.” This year he added: “New mobility and advanced transportation; shakeup of startups in the industry will begin.”
Tim Chater, executive partner at Pilot Lite Ventures, said: “Emergence of AI into mainstream” in 2018 was the big issue and AI would again be for 2019.
Ann Cheng, senior investment manager at Hyundai Motor’s Cradle, said AI was important in 2018, while adding blockchain for 2019 on top.
Andrea Course, principal at Schlumberger Technology Investments, for last year said: “Clean tech, internet and things and energy transition technologies.” She added for 2019: “I think the trend will keep on growing on trying to find technologies that will allow us to innovate and optimise our current processes.” While her colleague, Jennifer Grigel, added that edge computing, security, digital twins were 2018’s big issues and IoT-enabled applications would be for 2019.
Peter Cowley, head of Marshall’s Martlet corporate angel fund, for last year said personalised medicine was his choice of tech, while also having concerns about the “worrying increase in hype of initial coin offerings (ICOs), crypto and blockchain”. This year he expected: “ICOs are regulated out of existence – although that make take longer. Better deals if anticipated global downturn starts.”
Dirk De Boever, head of investments at Finindus, said AI dominated 2018 while industry 4.0 would do so in 2019.
Victoria De La Huerga, vice-president at Archer Daniels Midland’s ADM Ventures, last year picked “digital everything, Amazon Go, big data and AI,” while 2019 would see opportunities for cannabis and hemp.
Christophe Defert, vice-president of Centrica Innovations, for last year said: “Everything as a service.” This year he has “AI and autonomous technologies beyond mobility” as the main issue.
Michaela Dempsey at Scout RFP, for last year said: “Advancement in machine learning’s intelligent analytics, internet of things and virtual reality.” She added for this year: “Advancing machine learning as there is no AI without advancing this step. IoT is already out there and needs to be maximised.”
Michael Dolbec, executive managing director at GE Ventures, said AI and edge computing were important in 2018 and would be again this year. His colleague, Alex de Winter, added: “Widespread application of blockchain and AI” in 2018 and AI for clinical decision support, precision medicine for 2019.
Lara Druyan, managing director and head of innovation for the west coast US at Royal Bank of Canada, said: “AI is now being used to solve tangible problems and create value for customers, especially in financial services. Previously, many of the companies felt like technology in search of problems to solve.” She added that for 2019: “AI will continue to be an important area. So will next generation architecture as the enterprise continues to be ripped and replaced.”
Matthieu Eyries, managing direct at Air Liquide Group’s Aliad corporate venturing unit, said last year;s trends were digital health and smart cities, while air quality and foodtech were the ones to watch in 2019.
Hélène Falchier, head of private equity and CEO of Open CNP at CNP Assurances, said AI was important in 2018, while “AI and maybe blockchain” would be in 2019.
Albert Fischer, co-owner at Yellow&Bue FS and formerly with Nuon, for last year and this said: “Energy storage in the broadest sense.”
Guenia Gawendo, innovation investments and scouting director at Telefónica, said edge computing was driving last year and this year, while Miguel Arias, global entrepreneurship director at Telefónica, said blockchain, AI applied to enterprise and the internet of things.
William Germain, former private equity investment professional at M&G’s Infracapital now at Techstars, said for 2018: “Data analytics, artificial intelligence, re-engineering technologies.” For 2019 he added: “Automated platforms and services across a range of sectors – leveraging technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence.”
George Gogolev, general manager at Severstal Ventures, for last year said “material informatics”.
David Goldschmidt, vice-president and managing director at Samsung Catalyst Fund, for last year said AI, while this year would be more about blockchain-related tech.
Scott Gunther, director of commercial development at IAG’s Firemark Ventures, said computer vision drove last year and this year in tech.
Brian Hollins, growth equity investor at Goldman Sachs, said: “Prescriptive analytics, sales enablement, robotics process automation.” For 2019 he added: Continuous data protection, edge computing, genomics.”
Amir Kabir, principal at Munich Re Ventures, for last year said: “Artificial intelligence, especifically neuro-lingusitic programming, semantic analysis, robotics process automation and bots.
Ankur Kamalia, managing director and head of venture portfolio management at Deutsche Boerse’s DB1 Ventures, for last year said: “Digital asset infrastructure build. Data privacy issues.” He added “platform expansion, digital assets, enterprise fintech” for 2019.
George Kellerman, new CEO of Yamaha Motor Ventures, said: “The rise of vertical take-off and landing for autonomous aerial commuter vehicles” was last year’s big issue. And agricultural robotics and automation would be the tech for 2019.
David Kingham, executive vice-chairman at Tokamak Energy, said private investment in fusion energy last year would mean we are “on the cusp of a big breakthrough” in 2019.
Florian Kolb, managing director of Innogy New Ventures, said data interoperability was last year’s issue, leading to “data-driven business models” in 2019.
Jon Koplin, managing director at Cisco Investments, said blockchain, AI and machine learning. For 2019 he added supply chain.
Axel Krieger, managing director and founding partner at Digital-plus Partners, said AI last year and “applied AI” this year.
Patricia Kroondijk, strategy manager at Financial Innovation Lab–Hitachi America, said machine learning, blockchain, robotics process automation were last year’s big issue.
Shashi Kumar, mentor at Group Sunkyoung (SK) Group, said mobility was the core tech for both last year and this year.
Ben Letalik, innovation and ventures at TD, said: “Artificial intelligence, data privacy” for 2018 and “segment-specific, vertically integrated solutions” this year.
Bo Liu, principal for venture investments at JJDC in Shanghai, China, said AI was last year’s big issue. His colleague in Boston, US, Marian Nakada, added, for 2018: “Cell therapy for oncology and gene therapy for a range of diseases.” She added for 2019: “Breakthrough data sciences approaches to elevating R&D effectiveness.”
Wikings Machado, director at Siemens’ Next47, for 2018 said: “There is great opportunity in the deep technologies that are fuelling fundamental changes across all industries. Examples of these technologies are autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, internet of things and additive manufacturing.” For 2019 he added: “In my role leading our business development efforts in the US, I see huge opportunities to be a catalyst for growth for any company by bridging the gap between their game-changing technologies and the leaders of the industries that can benefit from them most.”
Ashish Mahashabde at American Express Ventures for last year said: “Autonomous systems moving beyond the hype and entering the ‘trough of disillusionment’.” He added for 2019: “Deep learning, edge computing, computer vision.”
Pankaj Makkar, head of Bertelsmann India Investments, said mobility and electric vehicles drove 2018, while adding fintech as well as mobility for 2019.
Jack Miner, managing director at Cleveland Clinic Ventures, for 2018 said AI.
Girish Nadkarni, president at Total Energy Ventures, for last year and this said: “Artificial intelligence and outer space-related technologies like geospatial analysis.” He added internet of things for 2019.
Hirokatsu Nakayama, investment director at Omron Ventures, said the increasingly cashless economy was important, while tech out of Israel would be significant in 2019.
Masa Nishikawa, president at Kanematsu Ventures, said autonomous driving was important last year and cybersecurity would be this year.
Tony Palcheck, managing director at Zebra Technologies, for last year and 2019 said: “To me, there were the three As – automation, analytics and artificial intelligence.”
Agustina Palmai, corporate development at Mercado Libre, for last year said: “Fresh delivery and digital payments solutions.” While “logistics solutions” was the tech to watch for 2019.
Sebastian Peck, managing director of InMotion Ventures for Jaguar Land Rover, said micro-mobility drove last year, while “all things mobility” would dominate this year.
Maria Peterson at JSR Micro, said quantum computing was important last year and AI would be in 2019.
Andrew Pitz, investment manager at Transamerica Ventures, for last year said: “Continued development of AI and machine learning – the real use cases, not the hype – but also crypto and blockchain use cases starting to be figured out.” For 2019 he added: “Tokenisation of real-world assets. Can bring liquidity to illiquid markets and can develop new derivatives markets.”
Rémi Prunier, investment manager at Orange Digital Ventures, for last year said: “Artificial intelligence and privacy – thanks to General Data Protection Regulation. Edge computing and augmented analytics might be among the biggest investment opportunities in 2019.”
Rajesh Ramanujam, emerging business investments at Lam Research Capital, for 2018 said artificial intelligence.
Mark Richey, venture partner for Medical Growth Fund at BioEnterprise, for last year said: “Social determinants of health and the application of machine learning and AI in directing intervention services and programs for optimal outcomes.” This year he said it would be “data lab and data science services”.
Don Riley, venture executive at Chevron Technology Ventures, said: “The two most impactful trends in 2018 are the widening use of machine learning and corporate digital transformation.” He added for 2019: “Carbon capture, sequestration and reuse.”
Philipp Rose, managing director at Robert Bosch Venture Capital, said quantum computing was a big issue last year while “AI, future mobility, deep tech” would be this year’s.
Jamie Rutledge, director and head of technology scouting, external research and strategic technology investments at Dyson, for last year said: “The various implementation of AI in the corporate environment for efficiency and augmentation.” He added for this year: “The various uses of blockchain – note Bitcoin – in conjunction of AI and robotics in the supply chain.”
Craig Schedler, venture partner at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, said: “Increased use of robotics process automation and continued growth of AI. For 2019 he added: “Investments in serving the population and digital health.”
Peter Seiffert, head of Embraer Ventures, said blockchain was the big technology for last year and AI would be in 2019.
Raj Senguttuvan, emerging business and partnerships at Analog Devices’ Analog Garage, for last year said genomics, AI, bio-sensors and autonomous vehicles, while industry 4.0 technologies, augmented and virtual reality, bioengineering and AI would factor this year.
Bonny Simi, president at JetBlue Technology Ventures, for last year said: “The evolution of the electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle also known as air taxi. In 2017 there were only 20 companies with public information about their efforts, and as of October 2018, there are over 100.” For 2019 she added: “Blockchain, AI and machine learning will start providing significant investment opportunities.”
Marc Sluijs, founder of DigitalHealth.Network, said digital therapeutics was the big technology for last year and would be again in 2019.
Kenyu Sobajima, head of at KDDI Open Innovation Fund, said artificial Intelligence was important last year and would be again this year.
Vinay Solanki, head of Commercial Growth Fund at Channel 4, for 2018 said: “Continued consumer adoption.”
Markus Solibieda, managing director at BASF Venture Capital, for last year said: “The advancements in 3D-printing technology.” He added for this year: “Agtech, 3D printing, platform business models.” His colleague, Han Qin, investment manager, for 2018 said AI, big data, machine learning and business-to-business platforms for this year.
William Taranto, president at Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, for 2018 said: “The advancement of AI in healthcare. We now see the beginning of true personalised medicine.” But for this year he added: “Body sensor monitoring in healthcare is at a point where the technology is so advanced and the data is so rich that it is still a hot area.”
Philipp Thurn und Taxis, founder and CEO of Constantia New Business Capital, sister company of Constantia Industries, said artificial intelligence was important last year, while “investing against the current as the tide goes out” would drive 2019.
Fumiko Uraki, deputy general manager at Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, said cryptocurrency was the big technology for last year and data security would be in 2019.
Brad Vale, founder of Strategic Healthcare Investment Partners, said blockchain was 2018’s big issue.
Rita Waite, manager at Juniper Networks, for 2018 said: “AI continues to be an important trend in the market. We are seeing increasingly more use cases that drove value from the technology. We need to build the infrastructure to support it.”
John Wei, senior investment manager at Sabic Ventures, said digital was the big technology for last year and would be again in 2019.
Mitchell Weinstock, partner at HP Tech Ventures, for 2018 said machine learning, while his partner, Angelo Del Priore, added: “Blockchain not. Actually, its crash is a great reminder for the need of real value to sustain a trend.” He added for 2019 that productised AI would be the area to watch.
Jim Wilkinson, chief financial officer at Oxford Sciences Innovation, said digitisation dominated in 2018, while AI would in 2019.
Yannick Willemin, head futurist at SGL Group, said: Additive manufacturing and material functionalisation were 2018’s big issues but sensors and actuators with the underlying technologies would be key to 2019.
Ben Wright, director at 3M Ventures, for 2018 said machine learning and AI.
